SECTION 5B. Failure of legal representative to give timely notice of death to plaintiff as ground for relief authorized by Sec. 5A

Whenever, upon the trial of a civil action in the supreme judicial or superior court seeking the relief authorized by section five A, it shall be made to appear to the court that the legal representative of the deceased person within nine months of his appointment failed to notify in writing the plaintiff of such death and failed within said nine months duly to suggest such death in such action, such facts may be sufficient ground for granting the relief authorized by said section five A.