Section 16. Real actions against several defendants, any one of whom is absent from the commonwealth, shall be conducted relative to him as if he were the sole defendant.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases
Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein
Chapter 227 - Proceedings Against Absent Defendants and Upon Insufficient Service
Section 1 - Actions in Personam
Section 5 - Agents for Service of Process; Duty to Appoint by Certain Individuals; Penalty
Section 6 - Attachment of Realty; Dismissal of Action Upon Failure of Notice
Section 11 - Execution Levied on Land
Section 12 - Judgment in Real Actions
Section 15 - Prosecution Against Persons Served; New Action
Section 16 - Real Actions; Absence of One of Several Defendants