STEPHEN STOUTE v. JOSEPH AOUN & Others.

• Court: Massachusetts Appeals Court
• Decided: March 13, 2026
• Docket: 24-P-1172
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOTICE: Summary decisions issued by the Appeals Court pursuant to M.A.C. Rule 23.0, as appearing in 97 Mass. App. Ct. 1017 (2020) (formerly known as rule 1:28, as amended by 73 Mass. App. Ct. 1001 [2009]), are primarily directed to the parties and, therefore, may not fully address the facts of the case or the panel's decisional rationale. Moreover, such decisions are not circulated to the entire court and, therefore, represent only the views of the panel that decided the case. A summary decision pursuant to rule 23.0 or rule 1:28 issued after February 25, 2008, may be cited for its persuasive value but, because of the limitations noted above, not as binding precedent. See Chace v. Curran, 71 Mass. App. Ct. 258, 260 n.4 (2008).

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

APPEALS COURT

24-P-1172

STEPHEN STOUTE

vs.

JOSEPH AOUN & others.1

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER PURSUANT TO RULE 23.0

In December 2021, the plaintiff filed an action against

Northeastern University (university) and "its board of

trustees."2 In August 2022, a judge of the Superior Court

dismissed the matter as to the individual defendants and

partially dismissed it as to the university. Later, after the

plaintiff failed to appear for a deposition noticed by the

university, the university moved for dismissal. The judge

1Jeffrey Clarke, Richard D'Amore, Jeffrey S. Bornstein, Edward G. Galante, Joseph M. Tucci, David L. House, Ralph C. Martin, Chaitanya Chet Kanojia, and Northeastern University. The defendants' names are styled as they were in the original complaint.

2Northeastern University, in its brief, contends that the named defendants include both present and former trustees. issued an order of dismissal, and a judgment of dismissal

entered in June 2024, from which the plaintiff now appeals. We

affirm.

Background. The original complaint alleged that the

university committed a breach of a written agreement with the

plaintiff regarding his admission to its college of engineering

and sought $10,000 in damages. Specifically, the plaintiff

alleged that the university agreed to admit him upon his

completion of certain coursework, but failed to do so, causing

emotional distress, economic losses, and reputational harm. The

plaintiff also alleged that he had sent a G. L. c. 93A demand

letter to the defendants. The plaintiff served but never filed

an alternative version of the complaint, raising claims of race-

based discrimination and seeking $20,000 in damages.3 The served

complaint incorporated exhibits, including the alleged written

agreement.4

The defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to

state a claim, the plaintiff opposed it, and a hearing was held

in July 2022. The judge allowed the motion as to all individual

3 In the exercise of her discretion, the judge considered this amended complaint, and we do the same.

4 The alleged written agreement was a form denying the plaintiff's admission into the college of engineering and stating that "another review will be conducted upon receipt of evidence of successful completion of [certain] coursework."

2 defendants and as to the claim of negligent infliction of

emotional distress against the university and denied the motion

as to the plaintiff's claims of breach of contract, racial

discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress,

and violation of G. L. c. 93A as against the university.

Discovery disputes followed, and the university moved for

dismissal pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 37 (d), 365 Mass. 797

(1974), based on the plaintiff's alleged failure to respond to

written discovery. Before this motion was ruled on, the

university filed a second rule 37 (d) motion to dismiss for the

plaintiff's failure to appear at a scheduled deposition. The

judge allowed this second rule 37 (d) motion to dismiss in June

2024, finding that the plaintiff took the position that he need

not appear for a deposition "because it does not take place in a

courtroom" and that the plaintiff "underst[ood] the method and

purpose of discovery rules" but did not wish to follow them.

The judge found that the plaintiff's actions were "willful" and

"made in bad faith," where the plaintiff failed to respond to

discovery requests after an order compelling him to do so, "sent

discovery requests to a judge" "instead of trying to reschedule

the deposition," and was unwilling to confer with counsel

regarding the discovery disputes, as required by Rule 9C of the

Rules of the Superior Court (2023). The judge concluded that

3 the sanction of dismissal was just and appropriate in the

circumstances and dismissed the complaint.

Discussion. We review a dismissal under rule 37 for an

abuse of discretion. See Partlow v. Hertz Corp., 370 Mass. 787,

790 (1976). Dismissal is an appropriate sanction where there is

a "finding of willfulness or bad faith." Keene v. Brigham &

Women's Hosp., Inc., 439 Mass. 223, 236 (2003). The plaintiff

argues on appeal that he was not the wrongdoer -- that he was

not required to participate in the deposition because it was

noticed in bad faith and that he was not required to produce

documents because he was never informed "who would cover the

cost for reproduction of documents."5 He also argues that the

discovery requests were a "fishing expedition." However, the

plaintiff does not elaborate on these points or explain why, for

example, the deposition was noticed in bad faith. Nor does the

plaintiff support his arguments with reference to support from

5 In his brief, the plaintiff also discusses his attempt to name the defendants' counsel as a defendant, his request for a jury trial, and certain ex parte communications he sent to the judge, which were not responded to, none of which "rise[] to the level of appellate argument" and which are not considered here. Kellogg v. Board of Registration in Med., 461 Mass. 1001, 1003 (2011). See Mass. R. A. P. 16 (a) (9), as appearing in 481 Mass. 1628 (2019) ("[t]he argument shall contain . . . the contentions of the appellant . . . with citations to the authorities and parts of the record on which the appellant relies").

4 the record6 or legal authority. See Mass. R. A. P. 16 (a) (9),

as appearing in 481 Mass. 1628 (2019). Based on the arguments

and record before us, we discern no reason to disturb the

judge's determination that the plaintiff's refusal to

participate in discovery was willful and undertaken in bad

faith.

Judgment of dismissal affirmed.

By the Court (Hershfang, Hodgens & Smyth, JJ.7),

Clerk

Entered: March 13, 2026.

6 In fact, the plaintiff has not provided the court with a record appendix to review his claims, and the only record appendix before us was submitted by the university.

7 The panelists are listed in order of seniority.