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Allston Finance Company v. Comm'r of Banks

Appeals Court of Massachusetts
Feb 5, 1980
399 N.E.2d 884 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980)

Opinion

February 5, 1980.

Owen Gallagher for the plaintiff.

Robert J. Gaines, Assistant Attorney General ( Jonathan Brant, Assistant Attorney General, with him) for the defendant.


If we assume that the record discloses an "actual controversy" within the meaning of G.L.c. 231A, § 1, as to whether the Commissioner is obliged to afford the plaintiff an "adjudicatory" (see G.L.c. 30A, § 1 and [3]) or other type of hearing prior to making any determination under the first sentence of the second paragraph of G.L.c. 255C, § 6 (inserted by St. 1964, c. 727, § 1), to release to the public any information which has been obtained from the plaintiff and which is subject to § 6, we must conclude that the controversy is academic (see Commissioner of the Dept. of Community Affairs v. Medford Housing Authy., 363 Mass. 826, 832 [1973]), and consequently that the plaintiff lacks standing to pursue it. See Massachusetts Assn. of Independent Ins. Agents Brokers, Inc. v. Commissioner of Ins., 373 Mass. 290, 292-293 (1977). The reason for our conclusion is that there is nothing in the record to suggest that the Commissioner had disclosed or authorized the disclosure of any such information or that he intends to make or authorize any such disclosure in the future. The judgment is vacated, and a new judgment is to be entered which dismisses the action.

So ordered.


Summaries of

Allston Finance Company v. Comm'r of Banks

Appeals Court of Massachusetts
Feb 5, 1980
399 N.E.2d 884 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980)
Case details for

Allston Finance Company v. Comm'r of Banks

Case Details

Full title:ALLSTON FINANCE COMPANY, INC. vs. COMMISSIONER OF BANKS

Court:Appeals Court of Massachusetts

Date published: Feb 5, 1980

Citations

399 N.E.2d 884 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980)
9 Mass. App. Ct. 839

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