Mass. Court Denies Broad Injunction For Marzilli

The Massachusetts Appeals Court has rejected a request for a civil rights injunction against former state Sen. James Marzilli to bar him from harassing all women in Massachusetts.

The court's ruling Thursday upheld a decision by a Superior Court judge who found that three women who claim they were groped and harassed by Marzilli are not entitled to an injunction on behalf of all women in the state.

A lawyer for the women had argued that Marzilli, a Democrat from Arlington, targeted his alleged victims based on their gender. She said she asked for the unusual injunction because a civil rights violation carries a stiff penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Marzilli is awaiting trial in criminal court for allegedly sexually harassing four women in Lowell in June 2008. He has pleaded not guilty.