# Massachusetts Motion Types | Trellis > Every motion type Trellis tracks in Massachusetts Superior Courts, with a link to each motion's page of outcomes, judge data and example rulings. Last updated: 2026-10-26 ## Discovery Motions - [Motion for Protective Order](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-protective-order-massachusetts-1295): Corp. v. Koons (1963) 325 F.2d 403, 407-408 \[2d Cir.\]\[“\[W\]e have no question as to the court's jurisdiction to \[issue a protective order\] under the inherent ‘equitable powers of courts of law over their own process, to prevent abuses, oppression, and in-justices.’”\]). - [Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Discovery](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-sanctions-for-failure-to-comply-with-discovery-massachusetts-1296): A party will almost always, in the absence of a complete failure to respond, be unable to seek sanctions for a failure to comply with discovery requests unless and until the party learns that the response it received was incorrect or incomplete. - [Motion to Compel Deposition](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-compel-deposition-massachusetts-1292): R. Civ. P. 30 (a), 365 Mass. 780 (1974); De Matos v. City of Fall River (2020) 97 Mass. - [Motion to Compel Disclosures of Expert Opinions](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-compel-disclosures-expert-opinions-massachusetts-1290): Under Mass. - [Motion to Compel Discovery Responses](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-compel-discovery-responses-massachusetts-1291): Motion Type: Motion to Compel Discovery Responses for Massachusetts. - [Motion to Compel Further Responses to Interrogatories](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-compel-further-responses-to-interrogatories-massachusetts-1293): App. Div. 187, 188 n.). - [Motion to Compel Production of Documents](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-compel-production-documents-massachusetts-1294): See 211 Code Mass. - [Motion to Quash Discovery](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-quash-discovery-massachusetts-1298): Motion Type: Motion to Quash Discovery for Massachusetts. - [Motion to Stay Discovery](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-stay-discovery-massachusetts-1297): A motion to stay discovery is properly brought under Rule 26(c) of the Mass. ## Dispositive Motions - [Motion for Summary Judgment/Partial Summary Judgment](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-summary-judgment-partial-summary-judgment-massachusetts-1303): Motion Type: Motion for Summary Judgment/Partial Summary Judgment for Massachusetts. - [Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Prosecute](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-dismiss-for-failure-to-prosecute-massachusetts-1301): R. Civ. P. 41 (b) (2); Africa v. Parent (2018) 113 N.E.3d 933.) - [Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-dismiss-for-failure-to-state-a-claim-massachusetts-1302): App. Ct. 862; Boston Yacht Sales v. Bill Jameson Yacht (1990) Mass. - [Motion to Dismiss for Forum Non Conveniens](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-dismiss-for-forum-non-conveniens-massachusetts-1299): Res., LLC v. Hernandez (2018) 480 Mass. 462, 472-73 citing Gianocostas (2008) 450 Mass. 715 at 723, quoting Universal Adjustment Corp. v. Midland Bank, Ltd. (1933) 281 Mass. 303, 313, 184 N.E. 152.) - [Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-dismiss-for-lack-personal-jurisdiction-massachusetts-1300): Motion Type: Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction for Massachusetts. ## Pre-trial Motions - [Motion for Change of Venue](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-change-venue-massachusetts-1309): Motion Type: Motion for Change of Venue for Massachusetts. - [Motion for Continuance](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-continuance-massachusetts-1319): App. Ct. 529, 534.) - [Motion for Joinder](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-joinder-massachusetts-1308): Motion Type: Motion for Joinder for Massachusetts. - [Motion for Leave to Amend Pleadings](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-leave-to-amend-pleadings-massachusetts-1314): John Corporation (1998) Mass. - [Motion for Preliminary Injunction](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-preliminary-injunction-massachusetts-1318): Motion Type: Motion for Preliminary Injunction for Massachusetts. - [Motion for Temporary Restraining Order](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-for-temporary-restraining-order-massachusetts-1310): Motion Type: Motion for Temporary Restraining Order for Massachusetts. - [Motion in Limine](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-in-limine-massachusetts-1305): Motion Type: Motion in Limine for Massachusetts. - [Motion to Bifurcate Civil Trial](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-bifurcate-civil-trial-massachusetts-1315): App. Ct. 525, 528 n.2.) - [Motion to Consolidate](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-consolidate-massachusetts-1316): R. Civ. P. 42 (a); Gillespie v. City of Northampton (2011) 460 Mass. 148, 157 n.15.) - [Motion to Deem Facts Admitted](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-deem-facts-admitted-massachusetts-1307): App. Div. 202, 203 n.1.) - [Motion to Intervene](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-intervene-massachusetts-1313): Motion Type: Motion to Intervene for Massachusetts. - [Motion to Reconsider, Alter or Amend a Judgment](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-reconsider-alter-amend-a-judgment-massachusetts-2819): App. Ct. Aug. 17, 2023); Liberty Square Dev. - [Motion to Recuse](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-recuse-massachusetts-1312): Under Canon 3(E)(1)(a) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, S.J.C. Rule 3:09, as appearing in 440 Mass. 1319 (2003), “A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to instances where ... the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party....” (See MacDonald v. MacDonald (1990) 407 Mass. 196, 203, 552 N.E.2d 533; In re Adoption of Norbert (2013) 83 Mass. - [Motion to Strike](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-strike-massachusetts-1311): App. Ct. 469, 473 n.4.) - [Motion to Transfer](https://trellis.law/ma/motion-type/motion-to-transfer-massachusetts-1317): App. Div. 138, 139-40.)