Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Massachusetts

Generally speaking, the answer is yes. You haven't explained the details, and there may be unusual circumstances in your case, but generally speaking a verbal promise to repay a loan is enforceable.

I agree. If you have records of the money being lent, a check for instance, that would be extremely helpful. You should consult with a lawyer regarding your options for representation. We could structure a fee agreement in several different ways for a case like this.