R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-29 / Section 9-29-1
§ 9-29-1. District court fees.
Status: in_force

(a) Every district court shall be allowed the following fees, in full, to be taxed in the bill of costs in every civil action:

(b) In addition to the fees set forth herein, the district court shall apply a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with §8-15-11.

(c) Provided, that five dollars ($5.00) of the fee for the entry of every action in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) or writ in subdivision (a)(3) shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-20 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-20
§ 9-1-20. Time of accrual of concealed cause of action.
Status: in_force

If any person, liable to an action by another, shall fraudulently, by actual misrepresentation, conceal from him or her the existence of the cause of action, the cause of action shall be deemed to accrue against the person so liable at the time when the person entitled to sue thereon shall first discover its existence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-11.2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-11.2
§ 9-10-11.2. Qualification and division of petit jury panels.
Status: in_force

The presiding justice of the superior court and the chief judge of the family court may assign a justice of those courts or the jury commissioner for the purpose of qualifying petit jurors and dividing the petit jury panels into subpanels. The assigned justice shall order the panel of petit jurors to be divided into two (2) or more subpanels, constituting of not less than twenty-five (25) members each in criminal cases and fifteen (15) members each in civil cases, so that juries may be impaneled from less than the total number summoned in several courtrooms and in civil and criminal cases at the same time; and the assigned justice may thereafter order the consolidation of several subpanels or all of them or may order additions to each of them from other subpanels and may continue, in like manner, as often as he or she shall deem it to be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section. The subdivision of the panel into subpanels and additions to the subpanels shall be by lot and the names of jurors so drawn by lot shall be placed in a box provided for that purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-11
§ 9-5-11. District court process returnable in any division.
Status: in_force

Writs and other process from the district court, duly signed and sealed, may be made returnable in any division, including writs of replevin; provided, that writs of replevin shall be made returnable to the district court in any division in which the goods or chattels to be replevied are taken, attached, or detained.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-36 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-36
§ 9-1-36. Enumeration of statutes of limitation.
Status: in_force

The following compilation of statutes of limitation for civil actions is set forth as an aid to the public and is not intended to replace the specific statutes referred to herein. The omission of any statute of limitation from this list shall in no way affect the validity of that statute.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-24 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-24
§ 9-1-24. Special limitations provisions unaffected.
Status: in_force

The provisions of §§ 9-1-14  9-1-23 shall not apply to any case in which a different time is limited by special provisions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-3
§ 9-18-3. Address and time of service of notice.
Status: in_force

The notification issued by the magistrate, officer, or commissioner who shall take the deposition shall be directed to any proper officer, or to any impartial or disinterested person, and shall be served a reasonable time, not less than twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, before the time of taking the deposition.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-29 / Section 9-29-14
§ 9-29-14. Legal Aid Society and Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. exempt from fees.
Status: in_force

Neither the Legal Aid Society of Rhode Island nor Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. shall be required to pay any fees to the superior court, family court, or district courts or the clerks thereof or any fees or charges for the service or travel of deputy sheriffs for serving any writ, citation, subpoena or other process or for taking bail, bond, or inventory or for making copies of writs for or in behalf of the organizations or their clients; provided, however, that fees and charges authorized by law shall nevertheless be taxable as costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-25 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-25
§ 9-25-25. Execution against real estate held in partnership name.
Status: in_force

Whenever a writ of execution is issued by the superior court or district court against real estate, title to which is held in the name of a partnership, the writ shall include, among other things, the name of the partnership.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-4-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-4 / Section 9-4-5
§ 9-4-5. Venue of actions between nonresident parties.
Status: in_force

If no one of the plaintiffs or defendants dwell within the state, and a corporation established out of the state be a party, personal or transitory actions or suits by or against it may, if brought in the superior court, be brought in the court for any county, or if in the district court, in any division.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-5
§ 9-22-5. Recovery of costs by prevailing party.
Status: in_force

In civil actions at law, the party prevailing shall recover costs, except where otherwise specially provided, or as justice may require, in the discretion of the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-17 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-17
§ 9-1-17. Limitation of actions on contracts or liabilities under seal and on judgments.
Status: in_force

The following actions shall be commenced and sued within twenty (20) years next after the cause of action shall accrue and not after: actions on contracts or liabilities under seal; and actions on judgments or decrees of any court of record of the United States, or of any state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-14.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-14.1
§ 9-9-14.1. Selection of jurors by use of electronic data processing equipment.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the jury commissioner may, with approval of the presiding justice of the superior court, select jurors from the registered voters of the several cities and towns as deemed necessary by the jury commission for the several counties of the state by means of the use of electronic data processing equipment, now or hereafter owned or leased by the state of Rhode Island, whenever the secretary of state shall certify to the jury commissioner that the equipment has been furnished with the names of all persons who are registered voters in the cities and towns. In such event, the jury commissioner shall supervise the electronic data processing machine operator in order to carry out the drawing in such a way that neither the jury commissioner nor the operator of the device shall be able to determine any name until the name has actually been drawn. After the drawing has been carried out in accordance herewith, the jury commissioner shall cause the electronic data processing machine operator to have the electronic data processing machine compile a list, by county, randomly mixing the names so drawn. Members of the public and press shall be admitted to the place of electronic data selection, to the extent that space and area may allow.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-23 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-23
§ 9-9-23. Investigation of names drawn  Lists of persons well qualified to serve.
Status: in_force

(a) The jury commissioner, either personally or by such assistant as he or she may employ as provided in § 9-9-7, shall investigate the names of all persons drawn as provided in § 9-9-14.1, and as far as possible in the order in which the names appear upon the lists. The investigation may be made by the mailing of questionnaires to such persons, or by other written inquiries deemed by the jury commissioner to be appropriate, but where the jury commissioner considers further investigation to be necessary or desirable, the investigation may include a personal interview by the jury commissioner or by one of his or her duly appointed assistants. The jury commissioner shall make lists of all grand and petit jurors for each town not exempted as provided in § 9-9-3, and in the order in which they were originally drawn, as he or she shall deem well qualified to serve, being persons of good moral character, of sound judgment, and free from all exception, which lists shall be kept on file in the office of the jury commissioner. The jury commissioner shall preserve a full record of the investigation, which shall not be disclosed to any person except by order of a justice of the superior court, or by order of the chief judge or associate justice of the family court, and may summon before him or her any person subject to serve as a juror, or any person who in the jury commissioners opinion has particular knowledge of a jurors fitness to serve as a juror, and for this purpose may administer oaths, and have the same powers as are by law provided for the summoning of witnesses by a coroner. Any person so summoned shall be entitled to the same fees as a witness summoned before a coroner. No rejection of a juror by the jury commissioner shall take final effect until it has been approved by a justice of the superior court, appointed for this purpose by the presiding justice, and he or she may appoint different justices from time to time for each county. A justice of the family court who has been appointed by the chief judge for the purpose of considering the recommendations of the jury commissioner concerning the fitness of jurors may also reject jurors. The chief judge may appoint different justices from time to time for each county.

(b) The jury commissioner shall not place any person upon the list who is not qualified as provided in § 9-9-1.1, nor shall he or she fail to place any person upon the list who is qualified, and if the commissioner or any of his or her assistants shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this section they shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned for the term of not more than one year, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-6
§ 9-31-6. Attorney general to appear.
Status: in_force

In any action pursuant to this chapter against the state of Rhode Island, the attorney general, or any assistant attorney general authorized by him or her, shall represent the state in the action. The attorney general is authorized to compromise or settle any claim cognizable under this chapter after the institution of suit thereon, with the approval of the court in which the suit is pending.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-6
§ 9-3-6. Liability for payments to patient without honoring hospital lien.
Status: in_force

Any person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, making any payment to a hospital patient or to his or her attorneys or heirs or legal representatives as compensation for the injury sustained, after the filing and mailing of the notice provided in § 9-3-5, without paying to the hospital the amount of its lien or so much thereof as can be satisfied out of the money due under any final judgment or compromise or settlement agreement after paying the amount of any prior liens, shall, for a period of one year from the date of payment to the patient or his or her heirs, attorneys, or legal representatives, be and remain liable to the hospital for the amount which the hospital was entitled to receive; and any such association, corporation, or other institution maintaining the hospital may, within such period, enforce its lien by a suit at law against the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, making any such payment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-21 / Section 9-21-6
§ 9-21-6. Allowance of appellate proceedings after time expired.
Status: in_force

When any person is aggrieved by an order, decree, decision, or judgment of the district court or of any probate court or town council from which an appeal or other review is available in the superior court and, because of accident, mistake, unforeseen cause, or excusable neglect has failed to claim his or her appeal, the superior court, if it appears that justice so requires, may, upon petition filed within ninety (90) days after the entry of the order, decree, decision, or judgment, allow an appeal to be taken and prosecuted upon such terms and conditions as the court may prescribe.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-31.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-31.1
§ 9-1-31.1. Members of public bodies  Exemption from liability.
Status: in_force

(a) Definitions. The following words and terms shall have the following respective meanings, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) Public body means any branch, department, division, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, authority, or any subdivision thereof of state government or any other public agency or public body corporate of the state of Rhode Island or any political subdivision thereof.

(2) Qualified member means an individual who serves without monetary or other compensation as a member of a public body for the purpose of setting policy, controlling, or otherwise overseeing the activities or functional responsibilities of the public body. As used in this section, compensation does not include a per diem or per meeting allowance, health insurance benefits, or reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the service.

(b) Limitation of liability. Notwithstanding any other law, a qualified member of a public body shall not be held civilly liable for any breach of his or her duties as such member, provided that nothing herein contained shall eliminate or limit the liability of a qualified member:

(1) For acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

(2) For any transaction from which such member derived an improper personal benefit; or

(3) For any malicious, willful or wanton act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-20 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-20
§ 9-2-20. Acceleration of actions involving $100,000 or more.
Status: in_force

Any civil action filed for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death in which the parties agree that the damages, if liability is proven, are likely to be in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or more, or if the court upon motion by either party finds that the damages, if liability is proven, are likely to be in the sum of one hundred thousand ($100,000) or more, shall be given priority for expedited hearing. This section shall not be construed so as to preclude adequate time for reasonable discovery.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-29 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-29
§ 9-5-29. Appointment of attorney by nonresidents doing business in state.
Status: in_force

Every individual not a resident of this state and every partnership composed of persons not such residents, having a usual place of business in this state, temporarily or permanently, or engaged here, temporarily or permanently, and with or without a usual place of business here, in the construction, erection, alteration, or repair of a building, bridge, railroad, railway, or structure of any kind, shall, before carrying on business in this state, file in the office of the secretary of state a written power appointing some competent person resident in this state as his or her or its attorney with authority to accept service of process against the individual or partnership in this state, containing an agreement on the part of the maker that the service of any lawful process in this state on the attorney shall be of the same force and validity as service on the individual or partnership; and providing, that, in case of garnishment, when the fees therefor shall have been paid or tendered, the attorney may make the affidavit required by law in such cases.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-16-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-16 / Section 9-16-2
§ 9-16-2. Expenses of view.
Status: in_force

To entitle himself or herself to a view, the party moving therefor shall advance such reasonable sum of money to the sheriff, to defray the expenses of the jury on the view, as the court shall order, and the amount of the expenses shall be taxed against the adverse party, if he or she who advanced the expenses shall recover costs in the suit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-12
§ 9-26-12. Retention of goods levied on by officer  Perishable goods.
Status: in_force

In all cases when execution shall be levied on any goods or chattels, the goods and chattels shall be kept in the possession of the officer and shall be advertised at least ten (10) days before they shall be exposed and offered for sale, in order that the person who owned the goods or chattels may, if he or she think fit, pay the money due, together with the costs which shall have accrued thereon, and thereupon have his or her goods or chattels restored to him or her again; provided, that if the goods and chattels shall be of a quickly perishable nature, the officer levying execution thereon shall immediately notify the defendant or his or her agent thereof, and may obtain an order from the court, or any justice thereof, issuing the execution, to sell the goods and chattels at such time and in such manner as the court or justice may prescribe, and the order may be obtained at any time. Such an order to the officer may also be obtained by either party or his or her agent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-18 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-18
§ 9-22-18. Disallowance of unjustified costs  Costs for written evidence.
Status: in_force

The justice of any court, who shall examine and approve any bill of costs, shall strike out and disallow any sum that may be taxed or demanded for the expense of any witness, or any evidence whatsoever, that shall appear to the justice to be overcharged, frivolous, or not material to the issue of the cause; and no costs shall be allowed for any written evidence, unless the fees are noted thereon, or certified by the officer who issued or made out the written evidence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-48 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-48
§ 9-1-48. Immunity from civil liability  Sports teams.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person who, without compensation and as a volunteer, renders services as a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official or who, without compensation and as a volunteer, assists a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official in a youth sports program organized and conducted by or under the auspices of a nonprofit corporation, and no director, trustee, officer, or employee of a nonprofit corporation which organizes, conducts, or sponsors a youth sports program, shall be liable to any person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in the rendering of such services or assistance or in the organization, conduct, or sponsorship of the youth sports program unless the acts or omissions of the person were committed in willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of the participants in the youth sports program. It shall be insufficient to impose liability upon any such person to establish only that the conduct of the person fell below ordinary standards of care.

(b) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person who renders services as a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official or who assists a manager, coach, instructor, umpire, referee, or official in an interscholastic or intramural sports program organized and conducted in accordance with and subject to the rules, regulations, and jurisdiction of the Rhode Island interscholastic league, the committee on junior high school athletics, and/or the board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall be liable to any person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in the rendering of such services or assistance unless the acts or omissions of the person were committed in willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of the participants in the interscholastic or intramural sports program.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person, corporation, or other entity who or which causes injury or damage as the result of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

(d) For purposes of this section:

(1) Compensation shall not include reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred or to be incurred or, solely in the case of umpires, referees, or other game officials, a modest honorarium.

(2) Nonprofit corporation shall include any nonprofit corporation or nonprofit association organized under the law of this state, or of any other state, or of the United States, which is authorized to do business in this state.

(3) Youth sports program shall include any program organized for recreational athletic competition, and/or instruction and whose participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger or physically or mentally disabled regardless of age.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-6-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-6 / Section 9-6-3
§ 9-6-3. Formal defects to be disregarded.
Status: in_force

No summons, writ, complaint, return, process, judgment, or other proceeding in civil causes in any court shall be abated, arrested, quashed, or reversed for any defect or want of form, but the court shall proceed and give judgment according as the right of the cause and matter in law shall appear unto it, without regarding any imperfections, defects, or want of form in the writ, pleading, return, process, judgment, or proceeding whatsoever.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-31 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-31
§ 9-19-31. Written statements or recordings in actions to recover damages for personal injuries.
Status: in_force

In any action to recover damages for personal injuries, no written statements or recordings concerning the facts out of which the cause of action arose given by either party to the other, or to his or her agent, attorney, or insurer shall be admissible in evidence for any purpose unless the name and address of the person taking the statement or recording appears thereon and unless a copy thereof is retained by the party giving the statement or recording or delivered to him or her at the time the statement or recording was given or within thirty (30) days thereafter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-1
§ 9-25-1. Trustee defined.
Status: in_force

The word trustee, wherever occurring in this chapter, shall be deemed to include the words attorney, agent, factor, or debtor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-6-15 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-6 / Section 9-6-15
§ 9-6-15. Pleading of equitable defense in district courts.
Status: in_force

In any action at law, pending in a district court, the plaintiff or the defendant may plead any equitable defense, upon which an unconditional judgment can be rendered for the party pleading the defense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-23 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-23
§ 9-25-23. Execution against attached property.
Status: in_force

Whenever final judgment or decree shall be rendered for the plaintiff in any action or suit in which a writ was served attaching real estate, or goods and chattels, or stock or shares in any incorporated company, the execution issued on the judgment or decree shall be levied on the property so attached, as soon as may be; but if execution shall not be so levied within one year from the day of entry of judgment or decree, the property attached shall be discharged from the attachment. In computing the periods of time provided in this section, time during which execution is stayed shall not be included.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-6
§ 9-19-6. Evidence of foreign law.
Status: in_force

Any party may also present to the trial court any admissible evidence of foreign laws, but, to enable a party to offer evidence of the law in another jurisdiction or to ask that judicial notice be taken thereof, reasonable notice shall be given to the adverse parties either in the pleadings or otherwise.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-29 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-29
§ 9-19-29. Admissibility of records of deceased physicians, dentists and professional engineers.
Status: in_force

(a) In all actions for the recovery of benefits under the Workers Compensation Act, chapters 29  38 of title 28, for personal injury or death, and in all actions for the recovery of damages for personal injury or death in any civil proceeding, if a physician, dentist, or professional engineer has died prior to the time of the trial of the action, the written records, reports, or bills of the physician or dentist concerning the patient who suffered the injury or death, and the reports and scale drawings of the professional engineer concerning matter relevant to the circumstances under which the injury or death was sustained, shall be admissible in evidence.

(b) In all actions for the recovery of benefits under the Workers Compensation Act for personal injury or death and in all actions for the recovery of damages for personal injury or death in any civil proceeding, if a physician, dentist, or professional engineer has moved out of this state prior to trial or cannot be located within this state after a reasonable search, and whose whereabouts and address are unknown, any written records, reports, or bills of the physician or dentist concerning the patient who suffered the injury or death, and the reports and scale drawings of the professional engineer concerning matter relevant to the circumstances under which the injury or death was sustained, shall be admissible in evidence and the patient may testify as to the medical or dental services provided and the treatment received, and another physician or dentist may provide evidence as to the medical or dental services or treatment as if the physician or dentist had been the one who rendered the services or treatment, including evidence as to the fair and reasonable charge for the services, the necessity of the services or treatment and any other matter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-10
§ 9-3-10. Notice of repairers lien.
Status: in_force

The lien provided in § 9-3-9 shall be effective only if a written notice containing the name and address of the owner, the date of the accident, and the name and address of the repairer shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the insurance carrier insuring against damage or loss by collision prior to the payment of any money to the owner, his or her representative, or assignee in compensation for the damage or loss.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-6
§ 9-25-6. Style of executions.
Status: in_force

Executions issued by any court shall issue in the name of the state of Rhode Island and shall be signed, sealed, and run in like manner as original writs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-21 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-21
§ 9-1-21. Effect of death of party on statute of limitations.
Status: in_force

If any person, for or against whom any causes of action enumerated in this chapter accrue, dies before the time limited for bringing action, or within sixty (60) days after the expiration of that time, and the cause of action survives, the action may be commenced by or against the executor or administrator of the deceased person, as the case may be, at any time not more than one year after the appointment of the executor or administrator of the person so dying, and not afterwards, if barred by the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that any such action shall be brought within three (3) years after the death of the person and not after.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-54 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-54
§ 9-1-54. Civil action against employer by employee under subpoena.
Status: in_force

(a) An employer shall not discharge, threaten, or otherwise take any adverse action against an employee regarding the employees compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment:

(1) When an employee has been duly served with a subpoena, to give evidence or testify before any court, within or without the state of Rhode Island, or before any judicial, quasi-judicial, or other administrative body or entity with the authority to issue subpoenas.

(2) When the employee, upon being duly served with a properly issued subpoena, promptly provides notice to their employer of being served and of the requirement to attend court or other duly constituted hearing.

(b) Any employer who violates this section may be liable for damages which may include actual damages, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorneys fees incurred by the employee.

(c) Any cause of action under this section shall be commenced within three (3) years from the date of violation.

(d) Nothing herein shall prevent an aggrieved employee from pursuing any other cause of action under federal or state law.

(e) Nothing herein shall require an employer to compensate an employee for time missed from work for complying with a subpoena.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-22 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-22
§ 9-9-22. Period during which names drawn are liable to service as jurors.
Status: in_force

The persons whose names are drawn as provided in §§ 9-9-14.1 and 9-9-14.2 shall be liable to serve as grand or petit jurors commencing at any time during the year beginning July next after the drawing, whenever notified to appear for such service as provided in chapter 10 of this title; and the persons whose names are so drawn at any other such meeting held in accordance with the provisions of § 9-9-14.2 shall be liable to so serve commencing at any time before July following the date of the drawing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-15-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-15 / Section 9-15-2
§ 9-15-2. Reference without action or suit brought.
Status: in_force

Though no action or suit is brought or pending, as provided in § 9-15-1, the district court may permit any persons or corporations who have any cause or causes of action not following the course of equity and the superior court may permit any persons or corporations who have any cause or causes of action, existing between them, to enter into a rule of court to refer the cause or causes of action to the decision of one or more referees, as provided in § 9-15-1, either jointly or severally, generally or specially; provided, that no rule entered into in the district court under the provisions of this chapter shall be made for any claim or claims which exceed in amount the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-32-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-32 / Section 9-32-7
§ 9-32-7. Uniformity of interpretation.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-17 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-17
§ 9-25-17. Execution against female on small judgment.
Status: in_force

No execution shall issue against the body of any female on any judgment founded on a contract where the debt or damages do not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00); but in such case, the execution shall issue against the goods and chattels and real estate of the female against whom the judgment shall have been rendered.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-24 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-24
§ 9-9-24. Appeals from jury commissioner.
Status: in_force

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the jury commissioner may, within one year from the time when his or her name was drawn, appeal to the superior court, which sitting without a jury, shall hear and determine the appeal and order that the name be placed upon or withdrawn from the list. Notice of the pendency of the appeal shall be given to the jury commissioner by citation. The decision of any justice of the superior court upon the appeal shall be final.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-13
§ 9-22-13. Travel and attendance costs of joint party.
Status: in_force

In all civil actions brought by or against a firm, company, or partnership and where there is a joint cause of action or joint defense, costs for travel and attendance of only one of the parties recovering judgment shall be taxed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-18 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-18
§ 9-17-18. Certificate of days and mileage as prerequisite to payment of fees.
Status: in_force

Every witness, previous to his or her obtaining any fee, except the amount which, in certain cases, must be tendered to him or her before he or she can be compelled to attend, shall give a certificate to the court wherein he or she has attended, certifying the number of days he or she has attended and the number of miles he or she has traveled; which certificate shall be subject to the examination of the court, and, if question arises, such allowance shall be made thereon as shall be lawfully due.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-25 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-25
§ 9-1-25. Time for bringing suit against state, political subdivision, city, or town.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and in § 9-1-51, for cases of sexual abuse, when a claimant is given the right to sue the state of Rhode Island, any political subdivision of the state, or any city or town by a special act of the general assembly, or in cases involving actions or claims in tort against the state or any political subdivision thereof or any city or town, the action shall be instituted within three (3) years from the effective date of the special act, or within three (3) years of the accrual of any claim of tort. Failure to institute suit within the three-year (3) period shall constitute a bar to the bringing of the legal action.

(b) In cases of childhood sexual abuse, the time for bringing suit against the state of Rhode Island or any other entity identified in subsection (a) of this section, § 9-1-51 shall apply.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-28 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-28
§ 9-9-28. Prohibition against loss of employment or longevity benefits.
Status: in_force

No employer doing business within the state of Rhode Island or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the state of Rhode Island shall cause any of its employees to suffer the loss of the employees position, wage increases, promotions, longevity benefit, or any other emolument due to the employer-employee relationship because the employee has been called to serve jury duty; provided, however, that no employer, in the absence of a contract or collective bargaining agreement to the contrary, shall be responsible to pay to the employee any compensation for the period of the jury duty. In addition to all civil rights available to the employee because of this section, a violation of this section upon conviction shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-13
§ 9-17-13. Spouses of parties.
Status: in_force

In the trial of every civil cause, the husband or wife of either party shall be deemed a competent witness; provided, that neither shall be permitted to give any testimony tending to criminate the other or to disclose any communication made to him or her, by the other, during their marriage, except on trials of petitions for divorce between them, trials between them involving their respective property rights, and under the provisions of § 11-34.1-9.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-7
§ 9-35-7. Petition to vacate registration.
Status: in_force

(a) Not later than thirty (30) days after notice under § 9-35-6 is served, the person against whom the judgment was registered may petition the court to vacate the registration. The court for cause may provide for a shorter or longer time for filing the petition.

(b) A petition under this section may assert only:

(1) A ground that could be asserted to deny recognition of the judgment under chapter 34 of title 9; or

(2) A failure to comply with a requirement of this chapter for registration of the judgment.

(c) A petition filed under this section does not itself stay enforcement of the registered judgment.

(d) If the court grants a petition under this section, the registration is vacated, and any act under the registration to enforce the registered judgment is void.

(e) If the court grants a petition under this section on a ground under subsection (b)(1) of this section, the court also shall render a judgment denying recognition of the Canadian judgment. A judgment rendered under this subsection has the same effect as a judgment denying recognition to a judgment on the same ground under chapter 34 of title 9.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-4
§ 9-34-4. Standards for recognition of foreign-country judgment.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a court of this state shall recognize a foreign-country judgment to which this chapter applies.

(b) A court of this state may not recognize a foreign-country judgment if:

(1) The judgment was rendered under a judicial system that does not provide impartial tribunals or procedures compatible with the requirements of due process of law;

(2) The foreign court did not have personal jurisdiction over the defendant; or

(3) The foreign court did not have jurisdiction over the subject matter.

(c) A court of this state need not recognize a foreign-country judgment if:

(1) The defendant in the proceeding in the foreign court did not receive notice of the proceeding in sufficient time to enable the defendant to defend;

(2) The judgment was obtained by fraud that deprived the losing party of an adequate opportunity to present its case;

(3) The judgment or the cause of action on which the judgment is based is repugnant to the public policy of this state or of the United States;

(4) The judgment conflicts with another final and conclusive judgment;

(5) The proceeding in the foreign court was contrary to an agreement between the parties under which the dispute in question was to be determined otherwise than by proceedings in that foreign court;

(6) In the case of jurisdiction based only on personal service, the foreign court was a seriously inconvenient forum for the trial of the action;

(7) The judgment was rendered in circumstances that raise substantial doubt about the integrity of the rendering court with respect to the judgment; or

(8) The specific proceeding in the foreign court leading to the judgment was not compatible with the requirements of due process of law.

(d) A party resisting recognition of a foreign-country judgment has the burden of establishing that a ground for nonrecognition stated in subsection (b) or (c) of this section exists.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-8
§ 9-30-8. Supplemental relief.
Status: in_force

Further relief based on a declaratory judgment or decree may be granted whenever necessary or proper. The application therefor shall be by petition to a court having jurisdiction to grant the relief. If the application is deemed sufficient, the court shall, on reasonable notice, require any adverse party whose rights have been adjudicated by the declaratory judgment or decree to show cause why further relief should not be granted forthwith.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-8
§ 9-34-8. Stay of proceedings pending appeal of foreign-country judgment.
Status: in_force

If a party establishes that an appeal from a foreign-country judgment is pending or will be taken, the court may stay any proceedings with regard to the foreign-country judgment until the appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires, or the appellant has had sufficient time to prosecute the appeal and has failed to do so.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-32-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-32 / Section 9-32-8
§ 9-32-8. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-4
§ 9-31-4. Damages in excess of limitation.
Status: in_force

The general assembly may, by special act, authorize actions of tort against cities and towns and fire districts in particular cases in which the amount of damages to be recovered may exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-16 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-16
§ 9-18-16. Use in bastardy cases.
Status: in_force

Depositions taken in conformity to the provisions of this chapter may be used in the trial of any bastardy case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-12
§ 9-34-12. Transitional provision.
Status: in_force

This chapter applies to all actions commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter [July 3, 2021] in which the issue of recognition of a foreign-country judgment is raised.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-8
§ 9-25-8. Form of district court writ of execution.
Status: in_force

A writ of execution issued by a district court shall be substantially in the following form:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-18 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-18
§ 9-1-18. Effect of absence from state on limitations.
Status: in_force

If any person against whom there is or shall be cause for any action, as enumerated in this chapter, in favor of a resident of the state, shall at the time the cause accrues be outside the limits of the state, or being within the state at the time the cause accrues shall go out of the state before the action is barred by the provisions of this chapter, and does not have or leave property or estate in the state that can be attached by process of law, then the person entitled to the action may commence the action, within the time before limited, after the person has returned into the state in such a manner that an action may, with reasonable diligence, be commenced against him or her by the person entitled to the action; provided, however, that no action shall be brought by any person upon a cause of action accruing outside this state which was barred by limitation or otherwise in the state, territory, or country in which the cause of action arose while he or she resided in the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-18 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-18
§ 9-25-18. Setoff of judgments and execution for balance.
Status: in_force

Whenever any court shall render final judgment for debts or damages in two (2) or more personal actions pending at the same time, in which the parties shall be reversed, and shall sue and be sued in the same right and capacity, the court shall set off the debts or damages recovered in the judgments and, provided no execution has already been issued upon either judgment, shall issue execution for the balance only, in favor of the party to whom it shall be due, with costs, if costs were recovered, and for costs only, if no balance upon the setoff is left; and a separate execution shall be issued in favor of the other party for costs, if costs were recovered by him or her; provided, that in every such case hereby provided for, the court shall have power to make such orders as may be required to carry out the intent of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-2
§ 9-3-2. Operation of attorneys lien.
Status: in_force

From the time notice is given by an attorney of the relationship of attorney and client to the person or party against whom a claim, demand, or counterclaim is made, or a cause of action or other matter is pending, the attorneys implied or express agreement shall begin to operate as a lien, and no settlement either before or after judgment shall invalidate it, but it may be enforced like any other lien against the money or thing of value which is the consideration for the settlement, or the parties, if they have made a settlement, may be proceeded against jointly or severally in an action on the case at law and shall be jointly or severally liable to the attorney for the full value of his or her lien in accordance with his or her implied or express agreement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-9
§ 9-17-9. Commitment of attached witness  Recognizance.
Status: in_force

If the court from which the writ of attachment issues, pursuant to § 9-17-8, shall not be in session at the time of the service of the writ, the officer charged with the service thereof shall commit the witness to jail, either in the county from which the writ shall issue or in which the witness shall be, there to be kept until he or she shall give recognizance before some person authorized to take bail in the same county, with sufficient surety, in the sum of one hundred dollars ($100), to appear before the court on the day named in the writ, or, failing to give recognizance, until he or she is discharged by the court; and the recognizance shall be returned by the person to the clerk of the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-20 / Section 9-20-4
§ 9-20-4. Comparative negligence.
Status: in_force

In all actions hereafter brought for personal injuries, or where personal injuries have resulted in death, or for injury to property, the fact that the person injured, or the owner of the property or person having control over the property, may not have been in the exercise of due care or the fact that the danger or defect was open and obvious shall not bar a recovery, but damages shall be diminished by the finder of fact in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person injured, or the owner of the property or the person having control over the property.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-24-31 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-24 / Section 9-24-31
§ 9-24-31. Judgment on dismissal or abandonment of appellate proceeding.
Status: in_force

Whenever any party, having commenced an appellate proceeding from any court or tribunal, whether by appeal or otherwise, shall fail to perfect the proceeding, or the court appealed to shall have dismissed the proceeding, the court or tribunal from which the proceeding was taken shall, on motion, at once enter such judgment, order, or decree, and as of such date, as the nature of the case may require, and may impose such additional costs and fines as the court deems just.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-12-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-12 / Section 9-12-4
§ 9-12-4. Action on instrument originally exceeding jurisdictional amount.
Status: in_force

In all actions for the recovery of money due on any note or other instrument in writing, which was given originally for five thousand dollars ($5,000) or a larger sum, and which by indorsement or by acknowledgment is reduced to five thousand dollars ($5,000) or under, including principal and interest, suit may be brought before the district court as provided in § 9-12-3, and judgment may be entered thereon, and execution awarded, in the same manner as though the note or other instrument in writing had been originally given for the sum to which the note or other instrument in writing has been reduced.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-33 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-33
§ 9-26-33. Discharge after twenty years of levy against real estate.
Status: in_force

On and after July 1, 1980, any executions levied against real estate, heretofore or thereafter of record, unless the levy is against only one spouse in real estate held as tenants by the entirety, shall be deemed discharged of record and no longer a lien upon the real estate therein described or referred to after the expiration of a period of twenty (20) years from the date of judgment in the case in which the execution was issued.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-12
§ 9-1-12. When action is commenced for purposes of statute of limitations.
Status: in_force

An action is commenced for purposes of the statute of limitations when the complaint is either filed with the court, deposited in the mail addressed to the clerk, or delivered to an officer for service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-2.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-2.1
§ 9-31-2.1. Limitation of damages  State  Commuter rail service.
Status: in_force

(a) Agreements between the state and a railroad for the provision of commuter rail service shall provide that the state shall secure and maintain a liability insurance policy covering the liability of the state and the railroad for property damage, personal injury, bodily injury, and death arising out of the commuter rail service. The policy shall name the state as named insured, and the railroad as an additional insured, shall have policy limits of not less than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) per occurrence annually and seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) in the aggregate annually, and shall be subject to self-insured retention in an amount up to seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000). In no event shall the state or the railroad be liable in excess of the coverage limits of the insurance policy for any and all claims for damage, whether compensatory or punitive, for property damage, personal injury, bodily injury, and death arising out of the commuter rail service.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the term railroad shall include any person, railroad corporation, or other legal entity in the business of providing rail transportation that contracts with the state for the provision of commuter rail services and the term commuter rail service shall include all services performed by a railroad pursuant to a contract with the state in connection with the transportation of rail passengers including, but not limited to, the operation of trains, trackage, and equipment, or the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of railroad equipment, tracks, and any appurtenant facilities or the provision of trackage rights over lines owned by any such railroad.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-15 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-15
§ 9-30-15. Uniformity of interpretation.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it, and to harmonize, as far as possible, with federal laws and regulations on the subject of declaratory judgments and decrees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-1
§ 9-5-1. Writs in name of state  Seal  Signature by clerk or justice.
Status: in_force

Writs issuing from any court shall issue in the name of the state of Rhode Island, shall be under the seal of the court from which they issue, and shall be signed by the clerk or by one of the justices thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-2
§ 9-31-2. Limitations of damages  State.
Status: in_force

In any tort action against the state of Rhode Island or any political subdivision thereof, any damages recovered therein shall not exceed the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000); provided, however, that in all instances in which the state was engaged in a proprietary function in the commission of the tort, or in any situation whereby the state has agreed to indemnify the federal government or any agency thereof for any tort liability, the limitation on damages set forth in this section shall not apply.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-5
§ 9-3-5. Notice of hospital lien.
Status: in_force

No hospital lien shall be effective unless a written notice containing the name and address of the injured person, the date of the accident, the name and location of the hospital, and the name of the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries received shall be filed in the office of the city or town clerk in which the hospital is located, prior to the payment of any money to the injured person, his or her attorneys, or legal representatives as compensation for the injuries; nor unless the hospital shall also mail, postage prepaid, a copy of the notice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the injured person and to the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries sustained prior to the payment of any money to the injured person, his or her attorneys, or legal representative as compensation for the injuries. The hospital shall mail a copy of the notice to any insurance carrier which has insured the person, firm, or corporation against such liability.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-10
§ 9-10-10. Penalty for failure of juror to attend.
Status: in_force

Every person duly notified to attend any court as juror, who does not attend as required or give satisfactory excuse to the court for not attending, or shall absent himself/herself therefrom without leave of the court, shall be brought before the court and, upon being adjudged in contempt, shall be fined not less than twenty dollars ($20.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-4
§ 9-30-4. Fiduciaries and other persons entitled to declaration of rights.
Status: in_force

Any person interested as or through an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or other fiduciary, creditor, devisee, legatee, heir, next of kin, or cestui que trust, in the administration of a trust, or of the estate of a decedent, an infant, person who is mentally incompetent or insolvent, may have a declaration of rights or legal relations in respect thereto:

(1) To ascertain any class of creditors, devisees, legatees, heirs, next of kin, or others;

(2) To direct the executors, administrators, or trustees to do or abstain from doing any particular act in their fiduciary capacity; or

(3) To determine any question arising in the administration of the estate or trust, including questions of construction of wills and other writings.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-53 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-53
§ 9-1-53. Misclassification of employees  Civil action.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation which suffers damages as a result of a competitive bid for a contract not being accepted due to another person, firm, or corporation knowingly misclassifying employees as independent subcontractors may bring an action for damages in the appropriate district or superior court. For the purposes of an action brought pursuant to this section, employee status shall be determined by the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding Internal Revenue Code of the United States, as from time to time amended.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-15 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-15
§ 9-19-15. Stenographic transcripts of testimony in superior court.
Status: in_force

Transcripts from stenographic notes of testimony duly taken in the superior court or the family court, under statutory authority, verified by the certificate of the stenographer taking the testimony, and allowed by the court, shall be admissible as evidence that the testimony was given, whenever proof of the testimony is otherwise competent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-9
§ 9-31-9. Refusal to defend  Attorney general.
Status: in_force

The attorney general may refuse to defend an action referred to in § 9-31-8 if he or she determines that:

(1) The act or omission was not within the scope of employment;

(2) The act or the failure to act was because of actual fraud, willful misconduct, or actual malice;

(3) The defense of the action or proceeding by the attorney general would create a conflict of interest between the state of Rhode Island and the employee or former employee;

(4) Within ten (10) days of the time he or she is served with any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand, or pleading, the employee or former employee fails to deliver the original or a copy thereof to the attorney general or his or her designee; or

(5) The state employee or former state employee refuses to cooperate fully with the attorney generals defense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-14
§ 9-10-14. Court examination of prospective jurors.
Status: in_force

The court shall, on motion of either party in a suit, examine on oath a person who is called as a juror therein, to know whether he or she is related to either party, has any interest in the cause, or has expressed or formed an opinion or is sensible of any bias or prejudice therein; and the party objecting to the juror may introduce any other competent evidence in support of the objection. The court may permit the parties or their attorneys to conduct the examination of the person called as a juror. If it appears to the court that the juror does not stand indifferent in the cause, another shall be called in his or her stead for the trial of that cause, but at no time shall counsel for either party be precluded from examining prospective jurors.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-28-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-28 / Section 9-28-4
§ 9-28-4. Appearance of judgment debtor  Hearing on citation.
Status: in_force

A judgment debtor upon whom the citation shall be served as provided in § 9-28-3 shall be obliged to appear in court in person in response to the citation as therein commanded, and for failure to so appear, may be proceeded against as provided by chapter 17 of this title in the case of a witness duly summoned who fails to appear as commanded. At the hearing on the citation, the court shall make inquiry by examination of the judgment debtor, or otherwise, as to his or her circumstances, his or her income from any source, and his or her ability to pay the judgment; and if the debtor fails to appear at the time and place fixed the inquiry may proceed in his or her absence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-10.5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-10.5
§ 9-5-10.5. Suspension, revocation or review of certification of certified constables.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon the receipt of a written complaint, request of the board, request of a judge of any court, or upon its own initiative, the department shall ascertain the facts and, if warranted, hold a hearing for the reprimand, suspension, or revocation of a certification. The director, or his or her designee, has the power to refuse a certification for cause or to suspend or revoke a certification or place an applicant on probation for any of the following reasons:

(1) The certification was obtained by false representation or by fraudulent act or conduct;

(2) Failure to report to the department any of the following within thirty (30) days of the occurrence:

(i) Any criminal prosecution taken in any jurisdiction. The constable shall provide the initial complaint filed and any other relevant legal documents;

(ii) Any change of name, address or other contact information;

(iii) Any administrative action taken against the constable in any jurisdiction by any government agency within or outside of this state. The report shall include a copy of all relevant legal documents;

(3) Failure to respond to the department within ten (10) days to any written inquiry from the department;

(4) Where a certified constable, in performing or attempting to perform any of the acts mentioned in this section, is found to have committed any of the following:

(i) Inappropriate conduct that fails to promote public confidence, including failure to maintain impartiality, equity, and fairness in the conduct of his or her duties;

(ii) Neglect, misfeasance, or malfeasance of his or her duties;

(iii) Failure to adhere to court policies, rules, procedures, or regulations;

(iv) Failure to maintain the highest standards of personal integrity, honesty, and truthfulness, including misrepresentation, bad faith, dishonesty, incompetence, or an arrest or conviction of a crime.

A copy of the determination of the director of the department of business regulation, or his or her designee, shall be forwarded to the chief judge of the district court within ten (10) business days.

(b) Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the chief of any court from suspending the certification of a constable to serve process within his or her respective court pending the outcome of an investigation consistent with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.

(c) The department is authorized to levy an administrative penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation for failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter or with any rule or regulation promulgated by the department.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-10
§ 9-17-10. Discharge from custody on giving of recognizance.
Status: in_force

The witness may give recognizance as provided in § 9-17-9 while in custody of the officer, before he or she is committed to jail; and thereupon the officer shall discharge him or her from custody.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-20 / Section 9-20-2
§ 9-20-2. Assessment of damages on default or submission.
Status: in_force

In all cases, except where otherwise provided, if judgment is rendered on default, discontinuance, submission, or motion, damages shall be assessed by the court, with the intervention of a jury unless cause is shown why there should be no intervention of a jury. The claimant in any case may waive the intervention of a jury.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-14
§ 9-1-14. Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries.
Status: in_force

(a) Actions for words spoken shall be commenced and sued within one year next after the words spoken, and not after.

(b) Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after, except as provided for otherwise in subsection (c) herein. Notwithstanding anything herein, any claim based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child shall be governed by § 9-1-51.

(c) As to an action for personal injuries wherein an injured party is entitled to proceed against an insurer pursuant to § 27-7-2, where an action is otherwise properly filed against an insured within the time limitations provided for by this section, and process against the insured tortfeasor has been returned non estinventus and filed with the court, then the statutory limitation for filing an action under § 27-7-2 directly against an insurer shall be extended an additional one hundred twenty (120) days after the expiration of the time limitation provided for in subsection (b) herein.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-15 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-15
§ 9-10-15. Residence or tax payment in town not ground for challenge.
Status: in_force

In complaints, indictments, and penal actions for the recovery of any sum of money or other thing forfeited, it shall not be cause for challenge to a juror that he or she resides or is liable to pay taxes in any town which may be benefited thereby.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-4
§ 9-1-4. Statute of frauds.
Status: in_force

No action shall be brought:

(1) Whereby to charge any person upon any contract for the sale of lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or the making of any lease thereof for a longer time than one year;

(2) Whereby to charge any person upon any agreement made upon consideration of marriage;

(3) Whereby to charge any trustee under any express trust, or any executor or administrator, upon his or her special promise to answer any debt or damage out of his or her own estate;

(4) Whereby to charge any person upon his or her special promise to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another person;

(5) Whereby to charge any person upon any agreement which is not to be performed within the space of one year from the making thereof;

(6) Whereby to charge any person upon any agreement or promise to pay any commission for or upon the sale of any interest in real estate;

(7) Except in cases to which the Uniform Commercial Code (title 6A) applies, whereby to charge any person upon any contract for the sale of personal property beyond five thousand dollars ($5,000) in an amount or value of remedy, unless the promise or agreement upon which the action shall be brought, or some note or memorandum thereof, shall be in writing, and signed by the party to be charged therewith, or by some other person by him or her thereunto lawfully authorized.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-43 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-43
§ 9-1-43. Civil action for childsnatching.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person, including a parent, who intentionally removes, causes the removal of, or detains any child under the age of eighteen (18) years with intent to deny another persons right of custody under an existing decree or order of the family court in violation of § 11-26-1.1 shall be liable in an action at law, suit in equity, or any other appropriate proceeding for redress in the superior court. Actions brought pursuant to this section may include, but not limited to, damages for mental and emotional distress, loss of service, society and companionship, compensatory damages incurred in searching for the missing child, punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys fees.

(b) If any provision or part of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions or parts of this section are severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-16 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-16
§ 9-22-16. Extra costs for appeal to delay.
Status: in_force

If it shall appear, on an appeal, exception, or other proceeding, from a lower to a higher court, that the proceeding has been taken (or affidavit filed) solely for delay, the court shall impose double costs on the party so seeking delay, or, in its discretion, treble costs if the case shall seem to warrant it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-4
§ 9-22-4. Liability of surety.
Status: in_force

Every surety shall be liable, in case the plaintiff shall not make good his or her case, to pay all costs that shall be awarded against the plaintiff; provided, that proceedings are brought therefor within one year after final decree or judgment in the suit or action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-5
§ 9-35-5. Effect of registration.
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a Canadian judgment registered under § 9-35-4 has the same effect provided in § 9-34-7 for a judgment a court determines to be entitled to recognition.

(b) A Canadian judgment registered under § 9-35-4 may not be enforced by sale or other disposition of property, or by seizure of property or trustee process, until thirty-one (31) days after notice under § 9-35-6 of registration is served. The court for cause may provide for a shorter or longer time. This subsection does not preclude use of relief available under law of this state other than this chapter to prevent dissipation, disposition, or removal of property.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-3
§ 9-30-3. Construction of contracts.
Status: in_force

A contract may be construed either before or after there has been a breach thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-11
§ 9-1-11. Survival of claims for damages in laying out of highways.
Status: in_force

Claims for damages on account of the laying out of highways through lands of the claimants, and appeals from proceedings in laying out highways, shall survive the death of the claimant and appellant; and the executors, administrators, heirs, and devisees of the claimant or appellant may, jointly or severally, according to their interest, prosecute the claim or appeal in any stage of the proceedings. In case of an appeal by the executors, administrators, heirs, or devisees, the proceedings shall be taken in the manner prescribed in chapter 23 of title 33; but the appeal shall be claimed within eighty (80) days after the determination appealed from, and all other periods, except as to notice mentioned in that chapter, shall be increased by forty (40) days.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-7
§ 9-30-7. Review.
Status: in_force

All orders, judgments, and decrees under this chapter may be reviewed as other orders, judgments, and decrees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-9
§ 9-18-9. Court grant of commission to take deposition.
Status: in_force

Any court may, on the motion of either party in any action, suit, or proceeding, civil or criminal, pending therein, in which a deposition may be used, or before any commissioners, referees, or auditors appointed by any such court or under a rule from it, grant a commission to take depositions according to law, whenever it may be necessary to prevent a failure or delay of justice, on such terms as such court, by general or special order, may direct; and the deposition, so taken, may be used in any state of the cause, on appeal or otherwise.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-39 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-39
§ 9-19-39. Use of photostatic copies.
Status: in_force

(a) Use of photostatic copies of medical records  Originals held available. Medical charts or records of any health care facility licensed under the laws of this state that are susceptible to photostatic reproduction may be proved as to foundation, identity, and authenticity without any preliminary testimony by use of legible and durable copies, certified in the manner provided herein by the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of the originals thereof. The copies may be used in any trial, hearing, deposition, or any other judicial or administrative action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in lieu of the original charts or records which, however, the health care facility shall hold available during the pendency of the action of proceeding for inspection and comparison by the court, tribunal, or hearing officer and by the parties and their attorneys of record.

(b) Subpoena of records  Certification of copies  Personal delivery.

(1) When a subpoena duces tecum is served upon any employee of any health care facility licensed under the laws of this state, requiring the production of any such medical charts or records at any action or proceeding consistent with the requirements of § 5-37.3-6, it shall be deemed a sufficient response to the subpoena if the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of the original thereof promptly notifies the attorney for the party causing service of the subpoena of the health care facilitys election to proceed under the provisions of this section and of the estimated actual and reasonable expenses of reproducing the charts or records. Upon the notification, the attorney causing the service of the subpoena shall notify all other attorneys of record or other parties if they are not represented by attorneys of the health care facilitys election. Following the election, the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of the original charts or records specified in the subpoena shall hold the originals available at the health care facility, and upon payment of their reasonable reproduction expense not to exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) by the party causing service of the subpoena, or by any other party, shall promptly deliver, by certified mail or with thirty (30) minutes advance notice by personal delivery, legible and durable copies, certified by the health care facility employee, of all medical charts or records specified in the subpoena to the person specified in the subpoena.

(2) The certification shall be signed before a notary public by the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of the records and shall include the full name of the patient, the patients medical record number, the number of pages in the medical record, and a legend substantially to the following effect:

(2) The copies of records for which this certification is made are true and complete reproductions of the original or microfilmed medical records which are housed in (name of health care facility). The original records were made in the regular course of business, and it was the regular course of (name of health care facility) to make such records at or near the time of the matter recorded. This certification is given pursuant to Rhode Island general laws § 9-19-39 by the custodian of the records in lieu of his or her personal appearance. Such copies shall be separately enclosed and sealed in an inner envelope or wrapper bearing the legend Copies of Medical Records.

(3) When the copies of records are personally delivered a receipt shall be presented to the person receiving the records for his or her signature and shall be immediately signed and returned to the person delivering the records. The receipt shall contain the name of the health care facility, the full name of the patient, the date the copies of records were received, and the signature of the person receiving the records. When the copies of the records are sent via certified mail, the receipt used by the postal authorities shall be sufficient to prove delivery and receipt of the copies of records.

(4) If the health care facility has none of the charts or records specified in the subpoena, or only a part thereof, the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being custodian of original hospital charts or records shall so state in a notarized affidavit and, following notice and payment of expenses, shall hold available the original charts or records which are in the health care facilitys custody and specified in the subpoena and shall deliver the certified copies together with the affidavit.

(5) Any patient whose medical records or charts are copied and delivered pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (b)(4), any person acting on the patients behalf, and the health care facility having custody of the records, shall have standing to apply to the court or other body before which the action or proceeding is pending for a protective order denying, restricting, or otherwise limiting access to and use of the copies or original charts and records.

(c) Opening of sealed envelopes. The copy of the records shall remain sealed and shall be opened only at the time of trial, deposition, or other hearing, upon the direction of the judge, court, officer, attorney, body, or tribunal conducting the proceeding, in the presence of all parties who have appeared in person or by counsel at the trial, deposition, or hearing. Before directing that the inner-envelope or wrapper be opened, the judge, court, officer, attorney, body, or tribunal shall first ascertain that either:

(1) The records have been subpoenaed in accordance with § 5-37.3-6; or

(2) The patient involved or someone authorized in his or her behalf to do so for him or her has consented thereto in accordance with § 5-37.3-4.

(d) Return of medical records to court clerk. When the copies of records are delivered to a party or his or her attorney of record for use in a deposition, they shall, after termination of the deposition, be delivered personally or by certified mail to the clerk of the court or other body before which the action or proceeding is pending, and it shall be the responsibility of the party or attorney to transmit the receipt obtained to the employee of the health care facility charged with responsibility of being custodian of the original records. When the records are received by the clerk of the court or other body from a health care facility or from a party or his or her attorney of record they shall be retained in the clerks custody, consistent with the requirements of § 5-37.3-4(c), at all times except when actually used in the action or proceeding. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the attorneys of record in the case from retaining copies of the records obtained at the deposition. Upon issuance of a final order terminating a case, the copies of the records will be promptly filed in a manner that protects the confidentiality of the medical information contained therein consistent with the requirements of § 5-37.3-4(c) by the clerk of the court with all other documents pertaining to the case until such a time as the normal retention period for court records expires. The copies of records shall then be permanently disposed of by the clerk in a manner that protects the confidentiality of the medical information contained therein. Should the case be appealed, the copies of records shall be forwarded to the appellate court with other documents pertaining to the case and retained and disposed of in the manner previously described.

(e) Obtaining personal attendance of custodian. The personal attendance of the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being the custodian of the original charts or records specified in the subpoena shall be required if the subpoena duces tecum contains a clause which reads:

(e) Obtaining personal attendance of custodian. The procedure authorized pursuant to § 9-19-39 will not be deemed sufficient compliance with this subpoena.

(f) Obtaining personal attendance of custodian and production of original record. The personal attendance of the employee of the health care facility charged with the responsibility of being the custodian of the original charts or records specified in the subpoena and the production of the original record shall be required if the subpoena duces tecum contains a clause which reads:

(f) Obtaining personal attendance of custodian and production of original record. Original records are required, and the procedure authorized pursuant to § 9-19-39 will not be deemed sufficient compliance with this subpoena.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-26 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-26
§ 9-26-26. Execution against corporation officers and stockholders.
Status: in_force

On the hearing of the action authorized by § 9-26-25, unless the president and directors, trustees, managers, or other like officers, stockholders, or members shall make it appear that they had not, at the time of the service of process upon them, within their possession and control, sufficient property of the corporation to satisfy the judgment or any part thereof, the court shall issue execution against the president, directors, trustees, managers, or other like officers, stockholders, or members, for the amount of the judgment, with interest and costs, as for their own private debt; but if it shall appear that the officers, stockholders, or members had property to satisfy part of the judgment only, then an execution shall issue for that amount only and costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-32-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-32 / Section 9-32-3
§ 9-32-3. Notice of filing.
Status: in_force

(a) At the time of the filing of the foreign judgment, the judgment creditor or his or her lawyer shall make and file with the clerk of court an affidavit setting forth the name and last known post office address of the judgment debtor and the judgment creditor.

(b) Promptly upon the filing of the foreign judgment and the affidavit, the clerk shall mail notice of the filing of the foreign judgment to the judgment debtor at the address given and shall make a note of the mailing in the docket. The notice shall include the name and post office address of the judgment creditor and the judgment creditors lawyer, if any, in this state. In addition, the judgment creditor may mail a notice of the filing of the judgment to the judgment debtor and may file proof of mailing with the clerk. Lack of mailing notice of filing by the clerk shall not affect the enforcement proceedings if proof of mailing by the judgment creditor has been filed.

(c) No execution or other process for enforcement of a foreign judgment filed hereunder shall issue until 20 days after the date the judgment is filed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-13
§ 9-10-13. Alternate jurors.
Status: in_force

Whenever in the opinion of the court the trial of a civil case before a jury is likely to be a protracted one, the court may, immediately after the jury is impaneled and sworn, direct the calling of one or two (2) additional jurors, to be known as alternate jurors. Alternate jurors shall be drawn from the same source, and in the same manner, and have the same qualifications, as regular jurors, and be subject to examination and challenge as such jurors, except that each party shall be allowed one peremptory challenge for each alternate juror. The alternate jurors shall take the proper oath or affirmation and shall be seated near the regular jurors with equal facilities for seeing and hearing the proceedings in the cause and shall attend at all times upon the trial of the cause in company with the regular jurors. They shall obey all orders and admonitions of the court, and if the regular jurors are ordered to be kept in the custody of an officer during the trial of the cause, the alternate jurors shall also be kept with the other jurors and, except as hereinafter provided, shall be discharged upon the final submission of the cause to the jury. If, before the final submission of the cause, a regular juror dies or is discharged, the court shall order the alternate juror, if there is but one, to take his or her place in the jury box. If there are two (2) alternate jurors, the court shall select one by lot, who shall then take his or her place in the jury box. After an alternate juror is in the jury box he or she shall be subject to the same rules as a regular juror.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-16 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-16
§ 9-26-16. Advertisement and sale of real estate levied on  Disposition of proceeds.
Status: in_force

(a) The officer shall give public notice of the levy and of the intended sale of the real estate or interest therein under the levy: first by mailing by certified mail return receipt requested to the record owner of the real estate as of the date sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled sale date, including the day of the mailing in the computation, without reference to any adjournment, continuation, or postponement of the sale, at the address of the real estate and, if different, at the owners address listed with the tax collectors office of the city or town where the real estate is situated as of such date at least twenty (20) days prior to first publishing the notice, including the day of the mailing in the computation; second by causing an advertisement thereof to be published once a week for the space of three (3) weeks next before the time of the sale in some public newspaper published in the county where the real estate lies, and if no such public newspaper is published therein, then in some public newspaper published daily in the city of Providence; and third by mailing written notice of the time and place of the sale by certified mail return receipt requested to all persons who have recorded a mortgage, attachment, lien, or any other encumbrance relating to the real estate under the levy which is junior or subordinate to the levy at the address, if any, of the holder of the mortgage, attachment, lien, or other encumbrance as set forth in the recorded instrument or to the address of the holders attorney as set forth in the recorded mortgage, attachment, lien, or other encumbrance at least fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled sale date, without regard to any adjournment, continuation, or postponement of the sale. If no such address shall be set forth in the mortgage, attachment, lien, or other encumbrance or if the instrument shall not have been recorded more than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled sale date, without reference to any adjournment, continuation, or postponement of the sale, no such notice need be mailed to the holder of any such mortgage, attachment, lien, or other encumbrance. If any such notice is so mailed but is undeliverable to the owner or the holder, is refused by the owner or the holder, is unclaimed by the owner or the holder, or if the owners or holders forwarding notice shall have expired, or if the notice shall otherwise not be delivered by the United States Postal Service, the notice requirement shall be deemed satisfied. If a notice is not given prior to the sale to all persons who have recorded a mortgage, attachment, lien, or any other encumbrance relating to the levied premises, which is junior or subordinate to the execution, the encumbrance shall survive the sale for a period of one year from the date of sale unless a written notice of commencement of foreclosure proceedings of the mortgage or a written notice of intent to enforce the attachment, lien, or other encumbrance is recorded in the land evidence records in the city or town where the levied premises are located. Failure to record written notice within one year of the sale shall render the mortgage, attachment, lien, or other encumbrance, which is junior or subordinate to the execution, unenforceable. If no person redeem the real estate or interest therein before the real estate shall be exposed for sale, which sale shall not be earlier than three (3) months after levy, the officer shall sell the real estate, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient to satisfy the judgment obtained and the costs and charges, at public auction, and a deed thereof, by him or her given, shall vest in the purchaser all the estate, right, and interest which the debtor had therein at the time the estate was attached, or in case there was no attachment, all the estate, right, and interest which the debtor had at the time the levy was made, and the surplus of money that shall arise from the sale of the real estate or interest therein after satisfying the execution and the costs and charges shall be deposited with the general treasurer for the owner thereof, and shall be liable to be attached for his or her other debts.

(b) The officer shall include in the deed given an affidavit of compliance with the requirements of written notice of the sale as set forth in subsection (a).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-12
§ 9-10-12. Drawing and impaneling of trial jury.
Status: in_force

On the day when the petit jurors are summoned to attend at a court in any court for the trial of either civil or criminal cases, the clerk shall cause the name and place of abode of each person summoned as a juror to be written upon a separate paper, all of which papers shall be as nearly as may be of the same size, and shall cause them to be placed in a box provided for that purpose. When a case is brought on to be tried, the clerk in open court shall shake the papers thoroughly and shall then draw out twelve (12) papers in criminal cases or six (6) papers in civil cases, one after the other, or such other number as ordered by the court. If any of the persons whose names are so drawn do not appear, or are excused, or are set aside, the clerk shall draw out other papers until the names of an appropriate number of jurors are drawn who appear and are not excused or set aside. The jurors shall be duly sworn and impaneled, and shall be the jury to try the issue, and one of them shall be appointed foreperson by the court. The names of the jurors so sworn shall be kept by themselves and, when the verdict of the jury has been recorded or when the jury has been discharged by consent of parties or by leave of court, shall be returned to the box; and this process shall be repeated in each case when an issue is brought on to be tried by the jury; but if an issue is so brought on before the verdict in any other case has been recorded or the jury in the case has been discharged, the court may order a jury for the trial of such issue to be impaneled by drawing, in the manner provided, of papers from those then remaining in the box.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-22 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-22
§ 9-19-22. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of §§ 9-19-19  9-19-21 or the application thereof to any person or circumstance be held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of those sections which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of those sections are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-17 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-17
§ 9-2-17. Joinder of registered owner and operator of motor vehicle as defendants in action for negligence.
Status: in_force

A plaintiff may join the registered owner and operator of a motor vehicle in an action to recover damages for negligence. Nothing herein shall be deemed to deprive the owner or operator of any defense he or she may have.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-33 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-33
§ 9-5-33. Jurisdiction over foreign corporations and over nonresident individuals, partnerships, or associations.
Status: in_force

(a) Every foreign corporation, every individual not a resident of this state or his or her executor or administrator, and every partnership or association, composed of any person or persons not such residents, that shall have the necessary minimum contacts with the state of Rhode Island, shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the state of Rhode Island, and the courts of this state shall hold such foreign corporations and such nonresident individuals or their executors or administrators, and such partnerships or associations amenable to suit in Rhode Island in every case not contrary to the provisions of the constitution or laws of the United States.

(b) Service of process may be made on any such foreign corporation, nonresident individual or his or her executor or administrator, and such partnership or association within or without the state in the manner provided by any applicable procedural rule or in the manner prescribed by order of the court in which the action is brought.

(c) Nothing herein shall limit or affect the right to serve process upon the nonresident individual or his or her executor or administrator, or the partnership or association, or a foreign corporation within this state or without this state in any manner now or hereafter permitted by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-9
§ 9-22-9. Costs on motions, petitions, and appeals.
Status: in_force

Any court may award costs on motions, petitions, or appeals filed in actions, suits, and other proceedings pending before it, for or against either party, in its discretion, and upon such terms and conditions as it may prescribe by general rule or special order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-14
§ 9-18-14. Delivery and recording of deposition in perpetual memory.
Status: in_force

The officer taking the deposition shall seal up and direct the deposition, together with the petition therefor, to the clerk of the superior court for the county in which some one of the persons notified of the taking of the deposition shall reside, or if no one of the persons so notified shall reside in this state, then the court for the county in which the person preferring the petition shall reside, and in case no one of the persons notified nor the person preferring the petition shall reside in this state, then in Providence county. The clerk shall, on receiving the deposition and petition, so directed and sealed up, on payment of legal fees for recording as in other cases, open and record the deposition and petition and the certificate of the taking of the deposition, in a book to be specifically kept for that purpose, noting on the deposition the time when he or she received it and the page of the book in which it is recorded, after which he or she shall deliver the deposition and petition to the party preferring the petition; and no deposition not so recorded shall be received as evidence in any court in the state, unless the deposition shall be opened in court at the time of the hearing of the cause in which it is used.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-21 / Section 9-21-2
§ 9-21-2. Relief from judgment or decree.
Status: in_force

(a) On motion and upon such terms as are just, a court may relieve a party or his or her legal representative from a final judgment, order, decree, or proceeding entered therein for the following reasons:

(1) Mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect;

(2) Newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under applicable law;

(3) Fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party;

(4) The judgment is void;

(5) The judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospective application; or

(6) Any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment.

(b) The motion shall be made within a reasonable time and not more than one year after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or taken.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-7
§ 9-2-7. Effect of judgment against part of joint contractors.
Status: in_force

No judgment, without complete satisfaction, rendered against a part only of the defendants in any action upon a joint contract shall be a bar to any future action on the contract, for any unsatisfied balance due, against such of the defendants upon whom or whose estate the writ in the original action shall not have been served.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-29 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-29
§ 9-1-29. Constructors of improvements to real property  Immunity from liability.
Status: in_force

No action (including arbitration proceedings) in tort to recover damages shall be brought against any architect or professional engineer who designed, planned, or supervised to any extent the construction of improvements to real property, or against any contractor or subcontractor who constructed the improvements to real property, or material suppliers who furnished materials for the construction of the improvements, on account of any deficiency in the design, planning, supervision, or observation of construction or construction of any such improvements or in the materials furnished for the improvements:

(1) For injury to property, real or personal, arising out of any such deficiency;

(2) For injury to the person or for wrongful death arising out of any such deficiency; or

(3) For contribution or indemnity for damages sustained on account of any injury mentioned in subdivisions (1) and (2) hereof more than ten (10) years after substantial completion of such an improvement; provided, however, that this shall not be construed to extend the time in which actions may otherwise be brought under §§ 9-1-13 and 9-1-14.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-7
§ 9-26-7. Mortgaged personal property.
Status: in_force

Personal estate, when mortgaged and in the possession of the mortgagor, and while the mortgage is redeemable either at law or in equity, may be levied on by execution against the mortgagor in the same manner as on his or her unincumbered personal estate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-8
§ 9-22-8. Costs in excess of claim  Attachment on small claims.
Status: in_force

In civil actions, no plaintiff shall recover costs in excess of the amount of his or her claim; nor shall any plaintiff in any action commenced by original writ or by writ of mesne process where property other than real estate is attached recover the costs of the attachment when the final judgment is for an amount less than fifty dollars ($50.00), unless the obligation sued upon is for necessaries furnished the defendant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-7
§ 9-31-7. Attorney for service.
Status: in_force

In any action pursuant to this chapter against the state of Rhode Island, the attorney general is hereby designated as attorney for service for the state in the action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-19 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-19
§ 9-26-19. Form of deed on execution sale.
Status: in_force

(a) The following shall be substantially the form of the deed to be given whenever real estate is levied upon and sold as provided in this chapter:

(b) And there shall be annexed to the deed, and forming a part thereof, a copy of the execution and the officers return thereon, duly certified by the officer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-5
§ 9-9-5. Jury commissioner  Term  Appointment and removal.
Status: in_force

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the position, whether by expiration of the term of office or otherwise, the presiding justice of the superior court, with the concurrence of a majority of the justices of the court, shall have the power to appoint a jury commissioner who shall be a qualified elector of the state, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the presiding justice and a majority of the justices of the superior court. The jury commissioners salary shall be determined and set by the unclassified pay plan board and he or she shall be entitled to the same longevity salary increases as though he or she was in the classified service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-8-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-8 / Section 9-8-4
§ 9-8-4. Dismissal on motion of court  Notice  Hearing.
Status: in_force

Actions at law, and such other proceedings as the court may order, which have been pending more than ten (10) years on July 10, 1982, may be dismissed for lack of prosecution by the court on its own motion, as directed by the chief justice of the supreme court as to that court, by the presiding justice of the superior court as to that court, and by the respective chief judges of the district and family courts as to those courts. Notice that the dockets are thus to be cleared of inactive cases and the time and place of hearing upon the courts motion shall be given by the clerk of the court in a public newspaper circulated in the county or district in which the actions are pending by two (2) publications at least one month before the date of hearing. Any attorney, or party not represented by an attorney, may appear at the time of the hearing to be heard on any such dismissals and the court in its discretion may dismiss the case or stay its dismissal for a period to be fixed by the court, and such period may also be extended.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-6
§ 9-18-6. Oath of deponent  Reduction of deposition to writing.
Status: in_force

Every person, before deposing, shall be sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and after giving the deposition shall subscribe his or her name thereto, if taken in longhand in the presence of the official before whom the deposition was taken. The deposition may be reduced to writing by the official or by any person, including the deponent, under his or her direction and in his or her presence, or may be reduced to writing stenographically either by the official or by some person in his or her presence and under his or her direction, sworn by the official to correctly take down in shorthand, the evidence as given; and in the latter case, a transcript thereof in longhand writing, typewriting, print, or other reproduction, sworn to by the person stenographically reporting the deposition and signed by the deponent, shall be received in evidence. The signature in the latter case shall be attested by the official taking the deposition or by some magistrate authorized to administer oaths whether in this state or elsewhere.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-24 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-24
§ 9-5-24. Service on Sunday void.
Status: in_force

No civil process whatsoever shall be served on Sunday, but every such service shall be utterly void.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-1.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-1.1
§ 9-9-1.1. Qualifications of jurors.
Status: in_force

(a) A person is qualified to serve as a juror if the person is:

(1) A citizen of the United States;

(2) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

(i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote; or

(ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or

(iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or

(iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or

(v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation;

(3) At least 18 years of age;

(4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and

(5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a juror.

(b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis, or is serving a sentence of confinement at a correctional facility as a consequence of a felony conviction.

(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2023, ch. 367, § 1 and P.L. 2023, ch. 368, § 1.]

(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of the persons disability, and if that person meets the above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, the person shall be deemed a qualified juror.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror because the prospective juror lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from being a competent juror in a particular case.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a partys right to preemptorially challenge jurors.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-12
§ 9-2-12. Actions against unincorporated associations.
Status: in_force

Any action or other civil proceeding may be maintained to recover any property or upon any cause of action for or upon which the plaintiff may maintain such an action or proceeding against all the associates, by reason of their interest or ownership, or claim of ownership therein, against the president and secretary of the association, or the officers or members exercising substantially the duties, respectively, of president and secretary, or if there is no such officer, or officers, or members exercising such duties, or either of them, then against any other two (2) officers of the association, or if there is but one officer, then against the single officer, or if there is no officer known to the plaintiff, then against any member of the association, describing the officer or officers, member or members, as the representative or representatives of the association.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-21 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-21
§ 9-26-21. Copies of execution records as evidence.
Status: in_force

A certified copy of the record of execution and return shall be admissible as evidence of the contents of the execution and return; and in the event of the destruction, loss, or obliteration of the return, amendments thereof may be allowed to be made upon a copy of the record certified by the city clerk, town clerk, or recorder of deeds, as the case may be, of the city or town wherein the deed, execution, or return shall have been recorded, with the same effect as if the amendment had been made on the original return.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-25 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-25
§ 9-26-25. Execution against corporations  Action against officers and stockholders.
Status: in_force

Whenever final judgment for any sum shall be rendered by any court against any banking association or any incorporated company, execution on the judgment shall be issued against the goods, chattels, and real estate of the corporation; and whenever any execution shall be, by the officer charged with the service thereof, returned that he or she cannot find sufficient property of the corporation whereon to levy the execution, the party in whose favor the judgment shall have been rendered may bring a civil action in the court in which the judgment was rendered against the president and directors, trustees, managers, or other like officers of the corporation, if any such there are, and, if none, then against so many of the stockholders or members thereof as he or she may think fit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-12
§ 9-17-12. Competency of parties or interested persons.
Status: in_force

No person shall be disqualified from testifying in any civil action or proceeding by reason of his or her being interested therein or being a party thereto.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-30 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-30
§ 9-5-30. Replacement of attorney for nonresident  Revocation of power.
Status: in_force

If resident attorney, as provided in § 9-5-29, shall die, resign, or remove from the state, the individual or partnership shall forthwith file with the secretary of state a further similar written power appointing some other competent resident in this state as his or her or its attorney for the purpose as provided in § 9-5-29. No power of attorney required to be filed by § 9-5-29 shall be revoked until after a like power shall have been given to some other competent person resident in this state and filed. Any such individual or partnership which has ceased to have a usual place of business in this state or to be engaged in this state in the construction, erection, alteration, or repair of a building, bridge, railroad, railway, or structure of any kind, may, however, revoke the power of attorney by a written instrument of revocation filed in the office of the secretary of state; but no such revocation shall be effective as to any liability arising out of any act or omission occurring prior to the time when the individual or partnership ceased to have a usual place of business in this state or to be engaged here.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-2
§ 9-5-2. Counties in which superior court writs made and returnable.
Status: in_force

Any original writ or writ of mesne process from the superior court for any county may be sealed and signed by the clerk of the court for any county and be made returnable in any other county where the court may sit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-3_9-25-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-3_9-25-3
§ 9-25-3. Limitation on issuance. [Effective until January 1, 2026.]9-25-3. Limitation on issuance and filing. [Effective January 1, 2026.]
Status: in_force

Executions, original or alias, may be issued by any court at any time within six (6) years from the rendition of the judgment originally or from the return day of the last execution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-14.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-29 / Section 9-29-14.1
§ 9-29-14.1. The state exempt from fees.
Status: in_force

The state of Rhode Island, its departments, agencies, boards, and commissions shall not be required to pay any fees, including appeal fees, to the superior court or district courts or the clerks thereof, or any fees or charges for the service or travel of deputy sheriffs for serving any writ, citation, subpoena, or other process or for taking bail, bond, or inventory or for making copies of writs for or in behalf of the state; provided, however, that fees and charges authorized by law shall nevertheless be taxable as costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-38 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-38
§ 9-1-38. Limitation of actions for medical expenses incurred by minors.
Status: in_force

Actions for medical expenses incurred by a minor, whether the minor or the minors parents or guardian has expended the sums, which medical expenses were incurred as the result of the negligence of a third party, shall be commenced and sued upon within three (3) years next after the minor reaches the age of eighteen (18) years, and not after. This section shall be given retroactive as well as prospective effect.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-6-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-6 / Section 9-6-9
§ 9-6-9. Truth as defense to libel or slander.
Status: in_force

In every action or proceeding, civil or criminal, for libel or slander, the defendant may, with his or her plea of not guilty or his answer, file a written notice that he or she will prove the truth of the publication charged as libelous, or of the words charged as slanderous, and in such case may, upon the trial, give the truth in evidence, without any special plea of justification or affirmative defense in his or her answer; and the truth, unless published or uttered from malicious motives, shall be sufficient defense to the person charged.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-3
§ 9-1-3. Liability of parents for torts of minors.
Status: in_force

The parent or parents of any unemancipated minor or minors, which minor or minors willfully or maliciously cause damage to any property or injury to any person, shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor or minors for the damage or injury to an amount not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) if the minor or minors would have been liable for the damage or injury if they had been adults; provided, nothing herein shall be construed to relieve the minor or minors from personal liability for the damage or injury. The liability herein provided for shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other liability which may exist at law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-19 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-19
§ 9-2-19. Malpractice actions.
Status: in_force

Any civil action filed on or after January 1, 1987, for personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentist, or dental hygienist based on professional negligence in which the parties agree that the damages, if liability is proven, are likely to be in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or more, or if the court upon motion by either party finds that the damages, if liability is proven, are likely to be in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or more, shall be given priority for expedited hearing. This section shall not be construed so as to preclude adequate time for reasonable discovery.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-5
§ 9-1-5. Liability of landlord for improvements to real estate by tenant by oral lease.
Status: reserved

The owner of real estate who induces a tenant to occupy it by promising to give him or her a lease of the real estate, the term of which is more than one year, shall be liable, if he or she fails or refuses to fulfill his or her promise, for the cost to the tenant of all improvements, repairs, alterations, betterments, and equipment made to, or placed upon the occupied premises, in reliance upon the promise and with the approval of the owner; provided, however, that this section shall not apply in case of a definite letting where rent is reserved or paid, nor in case the unfulfilled promise of the owner is in writing and is itself legally enforceable, nor in case of original or continued occupancy of the premises under a written instrument, signed by the parties. Such costs shall be recoverable by the tenant, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, in a civil action for money had and received, brought against the owner, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, or assigns, commenced within one year after the termination of the original tenancy, and not thereafter. Neither the tender of the promised lease after termination of, or notice of intention to terminate, the original tenancy, nor delay during occupancy to begin suit, shall prejudice or defeat the action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-29 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-29
§ 9-9-29. Public transportation.
Status: in_force

The jury commissioner shall establish a procedure whereby, upon request, any serving juror shall be allowed the use of the regularly scheduled services of the Rhode Island public transit authority and the Pawtucket-Providence commuter ferry shuttle service and passage upon the Claiborne Pell Bridge free of charge on each day of the jurors service. A juror requesting these services shall be given a travel voucher valid for use of the services of the Rhode Island public transit authority or the Pawtucket-Providence commuter ferry shuttle service or tokens valid for passage upon the Claiborne Pell Bridge while he or she is serving as a juror.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-1
§ 9-30-1. Scope.
Status: in_force

The superior or family court upon petition, following such procedure as the court by general or special rules may prescribe, shall have power to declare rights, status, and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed. No action or proceeding shall be open to objection on the ground that a declaratory judgment or decree is prayed for. The declaration may be either affirmative or negative in form and effect; and such declarations shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-7
§ 9-18-7. Sealing and delivery to court.
Status: in_force

The deposition, once taken, shall be retained by the magistrate, officer, or commissioner until he or she delivers the deposition with his or her own hand to the court for which it is taken, or shall, together with a certificate of its having been duly taken, be by the magistrate, officer, or commissioner, sealed up and directed to such court and delivered to the clerk thereof, and remain so sealed until opened by order of the court or of some justice thereof, or by the clerk with the consent of the parties; and any person may be compelled to appear and depose as provided in this chapter within this state, in the same manner as to appear and testify in court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-27 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-27
§ 9-26-27. Interest on execution.
Status: in_force

Every deputy sheriff, town sergeant, and constable charged with the service of any execution for any debt or damages shall levy, collect, receive, and pay over interest on the debt or damages, from the date entered on the margin, up to the time of its discharge by him or her.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-16 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-16
§ 9-10-16. State citizenship not ground for challenge.
Status: in_force

No person shall be disqualified to act as a juror in any case in which the state is directly or indirectly a party by reason of his or her being a citizen thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-40 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-40
§ 9-19-40. Records of the division of motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

In any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding in which the status of the license of any person who drives a motor vehicle on any highway of this state is an issue, certified copies of relevant documents on file with the division of motor vehicles or with the official custodian of relevant documents of another state or subdivision thereof, and the certified statement of the administrator, his or her equivalent, or his or her duly appointed designee as to the status of the license, shall be admissible as evidence of the status of the license subject to the right of the defendant to subpoena the records in rebuttal. Upon request, copies shall be provided to the person or his or her counsel at least three days before the proceeding.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-2
§ 9-9-2. Exclusion for race, color, or previous servitude, disability, or gender prohibited.
Status: in_force

No citizen, possessing all other qualifications which are or shall be prescribed by law, shall be disqualified for service as a grand or petit juror in any court of this state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, disability, or gender; and any officer or other person, charged with any duty in the selection or summoning of jurors, who shall willfully exclude or fail to select or summon any citizen for any of the causes provided shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-21 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-21
§ 9-19-21. Prima facie validity of federal findings and certified copies.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of §§ 9-19-19 and 9-19-20, any finding, report, or record, or duly certified copy thereof, purporting to have been signed by such an officer or employee of the United States as is described in those sections, shall prima facie be deemed to have been signed and issued by such an officer or employee pursuant to law, and the person signing the report or record shall prima facie be deemed to have acted within the scope of his or her authority. If a copy purports to have been certified by a person authorized by law to certify the report or record, the certified copy shall be prima facie evidence of his or her authority so to certify.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-25 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-25
§ 9-5-25. Exemption of voters from arrest.
Status: in_force

All persons entitled to vote shall be protected from arrest in civil cases, on the days of election for city or town officers, and for state officers, representatives in congress, and electors of president and vice-president of the United States; and on the day preceding and the day following the election.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-10
§ 9-22-10. Matters before superior court in vacation.
Status: in_force

In all cases where power is conferred upon the superior court to hear and determine any matter in vacation, the court may, in its discretion, award costs to either or neither party thereto, or divide the costs in any proportion between the parties; such costs to be taxed by the clerk unless objected to by either party, in which event the costs shall be passed on by the court, and, if allowed, collected by execution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-27 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-27
§ 9-5-27. Service on nonresident guardian, executor, or administrator.
Status: in_force

Service of any process may be made by any disinterested person upon any nonresident guardian, executor, or administrator, appointed or approved by any court of probate in this state, either by reading the process to him or her or by leaving an attested copy thereof with him or her, or by leaving the copy at his or her last and usual place of abode with some person living there; and in the latter case, by also publishing notice to him or her in such manner as the court, out of which the process issues, shall direct. And if the guardian, executor, or administrator shall not appear and answer the process, the probate court may, in its discretion, remove the guardian, executor, or administrator.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-10
§ 9-31-10. Exclusive control over litigation.
Status: in_force

Whenever the attorney general defends a state employee or former state employee pursuant to §§ 9-31-8  9-31-12, the attorney general shall assume exclusive control over the representation of the employee or former state employee, and the employee or former state employee shall cooperate fully with the attorney generals defense. The attorney general is authorized to compromise or settle any claims after the institution of suit thereon, with the approval of the court in which the suit is pending.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-13
§ 9-3-13. Notice of lessors lien.
Status: in_force

The lien provided in § 9-3-12 shall be effective only if a written notice containing the name and address of the owner, the date of the accident, and the name and address of the lessor shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the insurance carrier insuring against the loss prior to the payment of any money to the owner, his or her representative, or assignee in compensation for the damage or loss.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-28-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-28 / Section 9-28-2
§ 9-28-2. Transmission of superior court papers to district court to which writ returnable.
Status: in_force

Upon ex parte motion of any party for whom judgment is rendered in the superior court in a case in which the writ was returnable to a district court and whose execution has been returned either wholly or in part unpaid and unsatisfied, the superior court in its discretion may transmit to the district court to which the writ in the case was made returnable all the papers in the case for hearing under the provisions of §§ 9-28-3  9-28-7, there to be kept until their return shall be ordered by the superior court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-2
§ 9-25-2. Time of issue.
Status: in_force

Executions shall issue at the request of the moving party, unless stayed by applicable procedural rules or unless otherwise ordered or provided by law; however, no execution shall issue before forty-eight (48) hours have elapsed after the entry of judgment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-2
§ 9-34-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Court means the superior court.

(2) Foreign country means a government other than:

(i) The United States;

(ii) A state, district, commonwealth, territory, or insular possession of the United States; or

(iii) Any other government with regard to which the decision in this state as to whether to recognize a judgment of that governments courts is initially subject to determination under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution.

(3) Foreign-country judgment means a judgment of a court of a foreign country.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-6
§ 9-34-6. Procedure for recognition of foreign-country judgment.
Status: in_force

(a) If recognition of a foreign-country judgment is sought as an original matter, the issue of recognition shall be raised by filing an action seeking recognition of the foreign-country judgment.

(b) If recognition of a foreign-country judgment is sought in a pending action, the issue of recognition may be raised by counterclaim, cross-claim, or affirmative defense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-22-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-22 / Section 9-22-7
§ 9-22-7. Apportionment of surveyors and other fees.
Status: in_force

Any court may divide or apportion, between the parties in a suit pending, the fees of surveyors and other persons performing services therein by direction of the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-8
§ 9-19-8. Uniformity of construction.
Status: in_force

Sections 9-19-2  9-19-7 shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact them.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-1
§ 9-35-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Registration of Canadian Money Judgments Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-7
§ 9-34-7. Effect of recognition of foreign-country judgment.
Status: in_force

If the court in a proceeding under § 9-34-6 finds that the foreign-country judgment is entitled to recognition under this chapter then, to the extent that the foreign-country judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money, the foreign-country judgment is:

(1) Conclusive between the parties to the same extent as the judgment of a sister state entitled to full faith and credit in this state would be conclusive; and

(2) Enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as a judgment rendered in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-10
§ 9-19-10. Entries and memoranda of decedent introduced for successor in title to decedent.
Status: in_force

Whenever the entries and written memoranda of a deceased person would be admissible in favor of his or her representatives, such entries and memoranda may be admitted in favor of any person claiming title under or from the decedent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-4-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-4 / Section 9-4-7
§ 9-4-7. Filing of papers and payment of entry fee.
Status: in_force

No proceedings, original or appellate, shall be deemed to be entered until the necessary papers are properly filed and the entry fee, if any is required, is paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-32-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-32 / Section 9-32-2
§ 9-32-2. Filing and status of foreign judgments.
Status: in_force

A copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with the act of congress or the statutes of this state may be filed in the office of the clerk of the appropriate superior or district court. The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of the superior or district court. A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of the court and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner to any Rhode Island state court judgment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-4
§ 9-17-4. Service of subpoena.
Status: in_force

A subpoena to a witness shall be served by delivering a copy to him or her.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-4
§ 9-25-4. Stay of execution.
Status: in_force

Any justice of the supreme, superior, or district court may, upon motion and for cause shown, stay execution upon any judgment or decree rendered in any court, until further order. With respect to a judgment or decree for child support, good cause shall be deemed to be shown when the family court, pursuant to § 15-5-16.2.4, has suspended payment of child support arrearages.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-19 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-29 / Section 9-29-19
§ 9-29-19. Family court fees.
Status: in_force

(a) The family court shall be allowed the following fees in full to be taxed in the bill of costs in every domestic relations or other civil proceeding:

(b) In addition to the fees as set forth herein, the family court shall apply a technology surcharge fee assessed in accordance with §8-15-11.

(c) Provided, that ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee for the entry of every petition, complaint or action shall be forwarded to Rhode Island Legal Services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-42 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-42
§ 9-19-42. The Rhode Island rules of evidence.
Status: in_force

The rules of evidence as adopted by the Rhode Island supreme court shall be controlling and take precedence over any statutory or case law in effect at the time of the adoption that is inconsistent with the Rhode Island rules of evidence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-21 / Section 9-21-13
§ 9-21-13. Periodic payment of tort judgments.
Status: in_force

In any legal action based upon a cause of action arising for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death in which damages, if liability is proved, are likely to be in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), the parties shall consider the use of periodic payments as means of settlement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-29 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-29
§ 9-26-29. Execution against body of a deputy sheriff for want of property.
Status: in_force

For want of goods and chattels and real estate or other property, subject to levy on execution, the director of public safety may designate a deputy sheriff to take the body of the defendant and commit him or her to the adult correctional institutions, whenever the writ of execution shall command him or her so to do.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-15 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-15
§ 9-26-15. Recording effective as levy.
Status: in_force

The filing of the copy of the execution with the recorder of deeds, if any, or with the town clerk or city clerk, as provided in § 9-26-14, shall constitute and be deemed a good and sufficient levy upon the real estate or any interest therein so described upon the copy of the execution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-1
§ 9-18-1. Officials authorized to take depositions.
Status: in_force

Any justice of the supreme or superior or family court, justice of the peace, or notary public may take the deposition of any witness to be used in the trial of any civil suit, action, petition, or proceeding in which he or she is not interested, nor counsel, nor the attorney of either party, and which shall then be commenced or pending in this state, or in any other state, or in the District of Columbia, or in any territory, government, or country.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-15-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-15 / Section 9-15-1
§ 9-15-1. Reference by agreement of parties.
Status: in_force

Any court may permit the parties in any civil action pending therein to enter into a rule of court to refer the action to the decision of one or more referees, to be agreed on by the parties, and also to refer in the same rule any other actions, causes of action, or suits that may exist between them, either jointly or severally, generally or specially.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-8
§ 9-1-8. Actual damages only to be granted after death of party.
Status: in_force

Whenever any of the causes of action or actions as provided in § 9-1-6 are, originally or by survival, brought or prosecuted by or against the executor or administrator of the party originally liable, the plaintiff shall be entitled to recover only the value of the goods taken, or the damage actually sustained, without any vindictive or exemplary damages, or damages for any alleged outrage to the feelings of the injured party.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-2
§ 9-26-2. Duty to execute and return writs.
Status: in_force

Every officer to whom a writ of execution or other judicial writ shall be lawfully issued shall execute the mandates therein contained as commanded, and shall make returns of his or her doings thereon. If he or she is unable to execute the mandates, he or she shall set forth the reason of his or her failure in his or her return.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-29-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-29 / Section 9-29-12
§ 9-29-12. Certification and search fees.
Status: in_force

To all recording and certifying officers, unless otherwise specifically provided, there shall be allowed:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-4-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-4 / Section 9-4-9
§ 9-4-9. Lis pendens.
Status: in_force

(a) No proceeding in court, hereafter taken, whether by filing bill, petition, declaration, or other complaint, or by rule of court or otherwise, and no final order, decree, or judgment, concerning the title to any real estate, in this state, or to any interest or easement therein, shall affect the title (except as to parties thereto and their heirs and devisees, and those having actual notice thereof) as to any rights acquired before notice of the filing, or entry of the notice shall be recorded in the records of land evidence in the town or city where the real estate is situated; the notice to be copied in a book duly indexed and kept for that purpose. The notice shall briefly state the names of all the parties, the court wherein filed, the date of filing, and the substance of the bill, petition, declaration or other complaint, rule, order, decree, or judgment, and a description of the real estate thereby affected, so as far as may be necessary to warn any person subsequently dealing with the title to the land.

(b) Any person causing such notice to be recorded shall, within seven (7) days of the recording, cause a copy of said notice to be mailed, regular mail, postage prepaid to all parties named in the bill, petition, declaration or other complaint, rule, order, decree, or judgment at their last known address. Failure to comply with this provision shall not invalidate the lis pendens.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-15 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-15
§ 9-18-15. Admissibility of deposition taken to perpetuate testimony.
Status: in_force

The deposition, in case of the death of any deponent, his or her of unsound mind, his or her absence from this state, or inability to attend, may be used as evidence in any court in this state against any person who shall have had due notice of the taking of the deposition, his or her heirs, executors, or administrators.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-11
§ 9-3-11. Liability where lien is not honored.
Status: in_force

Any insurance carrier making any payment to the owner, his or her representative, or assignee as compensation for the repair of damage to the vehicle after the mailing of the notice without paying to the repairer the amount of his or her lien or so much thereof as can be satisfied out of the money due under any final judgment or compromise or settlement agreement after paying the amount of any prior liens, shall, for a period of one year from the date of payment to the owner, his or her representative, or assignee, be and remain liable to the repairer for the amount which the repairer was entitled to receive; and any such repairer may, within such period, enforce his or her lien by a suit at law against the insurance carrier making the payment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-27.2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-27.2
§ 9-19-27.2. Evidence of charges required from hospitals for medical records, hospital services and for prescriptions and orthopedic appliances  Applicable to claims against medical providers.
Status: in_force

(a) In any proceeding commenced in any court, commission, or agency, an itemized bill and reports, whether originating within this state or any other state, including hospital medical records, relating to medical, dental, hospital services, prescriptions, or orthopedic appliances rendered to or prescribed for a person injured, and/or any report of any examination of the injured person, including, but not limited to, hospital medical records subscribed and sworn to under the penalties of perjury by the physician, dentist, or authorized agent of the hospital rendering the services or by the pharmacist or retailer of orthopedic appliances, shall be admissible as evidence of the fair and reasonable charge for the services and/or the necessity of the services or treatment, the diagnosis of the physician or dentist, the prognosis of the physician or dentist; the opinion of the physician or dentist as to proximate cause of the condition so diagnosed, and the opinion of the physician or dentist as to disability or incapacity, if any, proximately resulting from the condition so diagnosed; and, provided, further, that written notice of the intention to offer the bill or report as such evidence, together with a copy thereof, has been given to the opposing party or parties, or to his or her or their attorneys, by mailing the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than ten (10) days before the introduction of the bill or report into evidence, and that an affidavit of the notice and the return receipt is filed with the clerk of the court forthwith after the receipt has been returned. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the right of any party to the action to summon or depose, at his or her own expense, the physician, dentist, pharmacist, retailer of orthopedic appliances, or agent of the hospital for the purpose of cross examination with respect to the bill, record, and report or to rebut the contents thereof, or for any other purpose, nor to limit the right of any party to the action to summon or depose any other person to testify in respect to the bill, record, and/or report or for any other purpose.

(b) The words physician, and dentist shall not include any person who is not licensed to practice as such under the laws of the jurisdiction within which the services were rendered, but shall include chiropodists, chiropractors, optometrists, osteopaths, physical therapists, psychologists, and other medical personnel licensed to practice under title 5 or under the laws of the jurisdiction within which the services were rendered.

(c) The word hospital shall mean any hospital required to incorporate under title 7, or which is in any way licensed or regulated by the laws of any other state, or by the laws and regulations of the United States, including hospitals of the veterans administration or similar type institutions, whether incorporated or not.

(d) Any party objecting to the admitting into evidence of the affidavit shall file an objection specifying the grounds thereof within ten (10) days of receipt of the affidavit, or said objections are waived.

(e) These provisions shall only apply to claims for personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentist, or dental hygienist based on professional negligence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-14
§ 9-26-14. Recording of execution against real estate.
Status: in_force

Whenever execution is to be levied upon real estate or any interest therein, the officer charged with the service of the execution shall file with the recorder of deeds, if any, or with the town clerk or the city clerk of the town or city in which the real estate shall lie, a copy of the execution, with his or her doings thereon, together with a description of the real estate or interest therein to be so levied upon, and the recorder of deeds, if any, or the town clerk or city clerk shall note upon the copy of the execution the exact time, as nearly as may be, when the execution was filed in his or her office, and shall also enter in a book, to be kept by him or her for that purpose, the names of all the parties in the execution, including the name of any partnership set forth in the writ where any real property of a defendant whose property is being levied upon is held in a partnership name, the amount of the judgment, the time when the copy was filed in his or her office, and the name of the court to which and the time when the execution is returnable, and shall be entitled to demand and to receive from the officer a fee of fifty cents ($.50) in each case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-20 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-20
§ 9-5-20. Writs and other process against unknown defendant.
Status: in_force

Whenever the name of any defendant or respondent is not known to the plaintiff, the summons and other process may issue against him or her by a fictitious name, or by such description as the plaintiff or complainant may select; and if duly served, it shall not be abated for that cause, but may be amended with or without terms as the court may order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-4-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-4 / Section 9-4-8
§ 9-4-8. Correction of defective entries.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided by law, whenever any civil action (except in a district court) or whenever any appeal shall not be entered according to law, the court to which the action or appeal is returnable may, in case of accident, mistake, unforeseen cause, or excusable neglect, in its discretion, allow the action or appeal to be entered with or without terms; provided, that if the action or appeal is not entered according to law, in the first instance, all attachments and arrests made therein shall be thereby vacated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-7
§ 9-9-7. Assistants and expenses of office.
Status: in_force

(a) The jury commissioner may, with the consent in writing of the presiding justice, from time to time appoint and remove an associate jury commissioner, an assistant jury commissioner, and such clerks, stenographers, and investigators, and may incur such office and traveling expenses, as shall be necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of his or her office.

(b) The associate jury commissioner and the assistant jury commissioner may discharge all of the duties of the jury commissioner appointing them and an act done by them shall have the same force and effect as though done by the jury commissioner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-32 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-32
§ 9-5-32. Notice to nonresident to appoint attorney  Agents for noncomplying persons.
Status: in_force

Every individual or partnership required by §§ 9-5-29  9-5-31 to file a power of attorney and failing so to do shall be notified by the secretary of state, upon information and request by any resident of this state, of the requirements of §§ 9-5-29  9-5-32; and every person who acts within the state as agent of any such individual or partnership which fails, after receipt of the notice from the secretary of state, to file the power shall for such failure be liable to a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) for each day during which the person has so acted after the receipt of the notice by the individual or partnership.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-25 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-25
§ 9-19-25. Illegally seized evidence inadmissible.
Status: in_force

In the trial of any action in any court of this state, no evidence shall be admissible where the evidence shall have been procured by, through, or in consequence of any illegal search and seizure as prohibited in § 6 of article 1 of the constitution of the state of Rhode Island.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-3-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-3 / Section 9-3-3
§ 9-3-3. Enforcement of attorneys lien.
Status: in_force

Any lien created by the provisions of §§ 9-3-1 and 9-3-2 may, at the election of the attorney, be established, foreclosed, and enforced by a civil action, which action may be tried and determined according to the usages in chancery and the principles of equity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-42 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-42
§ 9-1-42. Alienation of affection, criminal conversation, or seduction  Causes of action abolished.
Status: in_force

No civil action shall be commenced or prosecuted for alienation of affection, criminal conversation, or seduction, and those causes of action are hereby abolished.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-6
§ 9-1-6. Causes and actions surviving death of parties.
Status: in_force

In addition to the causes of action and actions which at common law survive the death of the plaintiff or defendant therein, the following causes of action or actions shall also survive:

(1) Causes of action and actions of waste.

(2) Causes of action and actions of replevin and for conversion.

(3) Causes of action and actions for damages to the person or to real and personal estate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-21 / Section 9-21-3
§ 9-21-3. Interlocutory decrees and orders entered by clerk.
Status: in_force

The supreme or superior court may by rule authorize the clerk to enter up interlocutory decrees and orders when appropriate, subject to be set aside or varied upon application and notice.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-11
§ 9-31-11. Conflict  Payment of counsel fees by state.
Status: in_force

In the event there is a conflict of interest or the attorney general determines it is not in the best interest of the state or the state employee or former state employee to represent him or her, the state shall pay for reasonable counsel fees; provided, however, that the attorney general shall consult in advance with the prospective counsel to establish the parameters within which the state will be liable for attorneys fees; and provided, further, that their reasonableness shall ultimately be reviewed and approved by the court before paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-11
§ 9-26-11. Attachment void unless mortgage redeemed or property sold.
Status: in_force

If the mortgage is not redeemed by the plaintiff or sold as provided in § 9-26-8, before the time of redemption expires, the attachment shall become void.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-15-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-15 / Section 9-15-5
§ 9-15-5. Oath of referee.
Status: in_force

Every referee, before he or she proceeds to the business of the reference, shall be sworn to perform his or her duties faithfully and impartially as referee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-8-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-8 / Section 9-8-5
§ 9-8-5. Annual action by court.
Status: in_force

(a) Thereafter, during the first week in February in each year, or as soon as thereafter is practicable, all actions at law, and other proceedings designated by the respective courts, deemed by the court to be inactive and then pending in the supreme court, the superior court, the family court, the district court, or the traffic tribunal, for five (5) years or more, may be dismissed for lack of prosecution, without costs. Entries of such dismissals shall be made as of course by the clerk, upon order of the chief justice, presiding justice, chief judges, or chief magistrate, of the respective courts, after notice has been duly given of the date upon which the cases will stand dismissed. The notice shall be given once a week for two (2) successive weeks at least three (3) weeks before the date in a newspaper having general circulation in the county or district where the action is pending.

(b) Upon the date any party desiring to be heard in opposition to dismissal of a case in which he or she appears may appear before the respective court (in the superior court before the presiding justice) and be heard thereon, and the court may in its discretion dismiss or stay dismissal of the case for such period as it may fix. Extensions of the period may also be granted. Any adversary party shall not be thereby prevented from making a special motion for dismissal within the period so fixed or extended.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-7 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-7
§ 9-17-7. Attachment to compel attendance.
Status: in_force

The court before which any witness is duly summoned to appear may compel his or her attendance by writ of attachment, fine him or her not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00), and order him or her to pay the costs of the attachment and to be committed to the adult correctional institutions until the fine and costs are paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-4
§ 9-10-4. Return of notifications  Certificate as to investigation of jurors.
Status: in_force

The notifications when served shall be returned forthwith by the officer serving them, either in person or by registered or certified mail, to the jury commissioner, who shall make out a list of the persons served, with their names, occupations, and residence appearing thereon and send the list, together with the notification, to the clerk of the court from which the notice came. Upon each list sent, the jury commissioner shall certify that all the names thereon contained are persons who have been investigated by him or her personally, or through his or her assistants, and found in his or her judgment to be persons well qualified to serve as jurors.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-2
§ 9-1-2. Civil liability for crimes and offenses.
Status: in_force

Whenever any person shall suffer any injury to his or her person, reputation, or estate by reason of the commission of any crime or offense, he or she may recover his or her damages for the injury in a civil action against the offender, and it shall not be any defense to such action that no criminal complaint for the crime or offense has been made; and whenever any person shall be guilty of larceny, he or she shall be liable to the owner of the money or articles taken for twice the value thereof, unless the money or articles are restored, and for the value thereof in case of restoration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-14
§ 9-2-14. Judgment and execution against association.
Status: in_force

In an action or proceeding brought pursuant to §§ 9-2-11 and 9-2-12, the officers or members against whom the action is brought shall not be arrested; and a judgment against them shall not authorize an execution to be issued against their property or person. When the judgment is for a sum of money, an execution issued thereon must require the officer serving the execution to satisfy the execution out of any personal or real property belonging to the association or owned jointly or in common by all members thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-11
§ 9-18-11. Depositions for use in foreign tribunals.
Status: in_force

Depositions may be taken in this state to be used on the trial of any cause pending in a tribunal of any other state, district, territory, or country, pursuant to chapter 18.1 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-6
§ 9-9-6. Vacancies in office of jury commissioner.
Status: in_force

Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of jury commissioner, the presiding justice of the superior court, with the concurrence of a majority of the justices of the court, shall appoint a jury commissioner. The person so appointed shall hold office at the pleasure of the presiding justice and the majority of the justices of the court. The salary of the jury commissioner so appointed shall be determined and set by the unclassified pay plan board and he or she shall be entitled to the same longevity salary increases as though he or she was in the classified service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-4-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-4 / Section 9-4-2
§ 9-4-2. Venue of actions involving realty.
Status: in_force

All civil actions which concern realty, or any right, easement, or interest therein, or the possession thereof, all civil actions for breaking and entering the close of any plaintiff, and all actions in which the title to real estate may be tried and determined, shall, if brought in the superior court, be brought in the court for the county, and if brought in the district court, in the division where the land lies; and whenever the land, whether consisting of an entire tract or of two (2) or more separate tracts, lies partly in two (2) or more counties or divisions, such actions, if brought in the superior court, may be brought in the court for any county, or if brought in a district court, in any division where the land or any portion thereof lies.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-1
§ 9-9-1. Persons liable to service  Voting operators licenses, Rhode Island identification card, state income tax returns and unemployment compensation as evidence.
Status: in_force

(a) A person is liable to serve as a juror if the person is:

(1) A citizen of the United States; and

(2) At least eighteen (18) years of age; and

(3) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

(i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote;

(ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or

(iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or

(iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or

(v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation.

(b) The list of qualified electors of each town and city as made up by the board of canvassers thereof, at its last meeting prior to the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even numbered year, and the duly certified records of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall be conclusive evidence of the liability of each person to serve as provided in this chapter, unless in the case of a qualified elector the name of the person has been removed from the list of qualified electors of that town or city on which the name of that person appears prior to being summoned to appear in court as a juror, and except as provided in this chapter. The jury commissioner shall notify the clerk of the board of canvassers and registration of each particular city or town when it appears that a person on a list of qualified jurors does not reside at the address on the list. The board of canvassers and registration, after due notice to the person, shall challenge the listing thereof and after a hearing thereon may remove that person from the list.

(c) The division of motor vehicles shall forward to the jury commissioner the names of licensed drivers and the names of those persons who possess Rhode Island identification cards issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1 in the state on a yearly basis.

(d) The division of taxation shall forward to the jury commissioner the names of all individuals who have filed a state income tax return, on a yearly basis.

(e) The department of labor and training shall forward to the jury commissioner the names of all individuals who are receiving unemployment compensation, on a yearly basis.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-24-30 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-24 / Section 9-24-30
§ 9-24-30. Return of cause to court from which certified.
Status: in_force

The supreme court, after having decided any cause or any question certified to it by a district court or the superior court, shall send back the papers in the cause, with its decision certified thereon, to the court from which the question or cause was certified, where all further proceedings shall be had.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-11
§ 9-25-11. Bracketed words in forms.
Status: in_force

If the execution issued by any court is one which may run against the body of the defendant, the words included in brackets in the forms prescribed in §§ 9-25-7  9-25-10 shall be retained, otherwise they shall be stricken out.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-19 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-19
§ 9-1-19. Disability postponing running of statute.
Status: in_force

If any person at the time any such cause of action shall accrue to him or her shall be under the age of eighteen (18) years, or of unsound mind, or beyond the limits of the United States, the person may bring the cause of action, within the time limited under this chapter, after the impediment is removed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-3.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-3.1
§ 9-1-3.1. Liability of parents and unemancipated minors for torts to each other.
Status: in_force

A parent may be held liable for injuries caused to his or her unemancipated minor child by the parents negligent acts or omissions. In all cases in which the injured minor is living, prior to the commencement of any civil action hereunder, a petition shall be brought in the superior court in the county in which the injured minor resides for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to pursue the action on behalf of the minor. The guardian ad litem shall not be a member of the minors family. Once appointed, the guardian ad litem shall be empowered to make all decisions on behalf of the minor relating to the cause of action against the parent. If the minor is deceased, the civil action may be commenced by his or her executor or administrator.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-10
§ 9-34-10. Uniformity of interpretation.
Status: in_force

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-30 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-30
§ 9-9-30. Promulgation of rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the jury commissioner shall, with the approval of the presiding justice of the superior court, promulgate rules and regulations for the efficient operation of the jury system within the counties of the state. Such rules and regulations shall become final after approval by the supreme court and upon filing in the office of the secretary of state, unless otherwise specified at the time of approval by the supreme court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-6
§ 9-35-6. Notice of registration.
Status: in_force

(a) A person that registers a Canadian judgment under § 9-35-4 shall cause notice of registration to be served on the person against whom the judgment has been registered.

(b) Notice under this section must be served in the same manner that a summons and complaint must be served in an action seeking recognition under § 9-34-6 of a foreign-country money judgment.

(c) Notice under this section must include:

(1) The date of registration and court in which the judgment was registered;

(2) The civil action number assigned to the registration;

(3) The name and address of:

(i) The person registering the judgment; and

(ii) The persons attorney, if any;

(4) A copy of the registration, including the documents required under § 9-35-4(b); and

(5) A statement that:

(i) The person against whom the judgment has been registered, not later than thirty (30) days after the date of service of notice, may petition the court to vacate the registration; and

(ii) The court for cause may provide for a shorter or longer time.

(d) Proof of service of notice under this section must be filed with the clerk of the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-2-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-2 / Section 9-2-11
§ 9-2-11. Actions by trustee for unincorporated associations.
Status: in_force

Any action or other civil proceeding may be maintained by any officer or member of an unincorporated association as trustee in its behalf, if so authorized by the association, to recover any property or upon any cause of action for or upon which all the associates may maintain such action or proceeding by reason of their interest or ownership therein, either jointly or in common. Any action or other civil proceeding may likewise be maintained by such officer or member to recover from one or more members of the association his or her or their proportionate share of any money lawfully expended by the association for the benefit of the associates or to enforce any lawful claim of the association against the member or members.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-28 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-28
§ 9-26-28. Execution against a deputy sheriff.
Status: in_force

Whenever judgment shall be rendered against any person holding the office of deputy sheriff, the execution issued thereon, directed in the ordinary form, may be delivered to the division of sheriffs who, may levy on the property, subject to levy on execution, of the defendant, and proceed and sell the property according to law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-31 / Section 9-31-8
§ 9-31-8. Defense of state employees  Attorney general.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in § 9-31-9, the attorney general shall, upon a written request of an employee or former employee of the state of Rhode Island, defend any action brought against the state employee or former state employee, on account of an act or omission that occurred within the scope of his or her employment with the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-24 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-24
§ 9-25-24. Trustees affidavit as to want of notice, accident, mistake, or excusable neglect.
Status: in_force

If any person named as the trustee of a defendant, who shall have been charged as trustee by reason of his or her default, shall make affidavit as to whether or not he or she had personal property of the defendant in his or her hands or possession at the time of the service of a writ in the action or suit upon him or her, and stating the amount or articles, if any, so in his or her hands, and that he or she failed to file an affidavit therein before he or she was charged by the court as the trustee of the defendant, either from want of actual notice of the service of the writ, or by accident, mistake, or excusable neglect, and shall give the affidavit to the officer charged with the service of the execution, who shall annex the affidavit to his or her return on the execution, or, if execution has not issued, if the person shall file the affidavit in the court in which he or she has been charged, with the clerk, if there is a clerk, otherwise with the justice thereof, and shall pay to the officer, clerk, or justice, respectively, the money paid for his or her attendance at the time of the service of the writ, and another like sum, and, in case execution has issued, shall pay to the officer the sum stated in his or her affidavit to be so in his or her hands, if any, or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy the execution, or, if the property in his or her hand as disclosed by his or her affidavit consists of specific articles, shall then deliver the articles to the officer, no further proceeding shall be commenced against the trustee, except as is provided in § 10-17-14 in case of a false answer or affidavit by the person summoned as trustee, and the officer shall pay the money paid to him or her by the trustee to the plaintiff, or take the specific articles on the execution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.4 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-14.4
§ 9-1-14.4. Limitations on home inspector malpractice actions.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 9-1-13 and 9-1-14, an action against a licensed home inspector for injury or damage arising out of a home inspection shall be commenced within three (3) years of delivery to the client of the written home inspection report giving rise to the action; provided, however, that:

(1) One who is under disability by reason of age, mental incompetence, or otherwise, and on whose behalf no action is brought within the period of three (3) years from the foregoing date of delivery, shall bring the action within three (3) years from the removal of the disability;

(2) In respect to those injuries or damages arising out of a home inspection which could not in the exercise of reasonable diligence be discovered at the time of delivery of the inspection report, suit shall be commenced within three (3) years of the time that the injuries or damages arising out of the home inspection should, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, have been discovered.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-3
§ 9-26-3. Body of deceased person exempt.
Status: in_force

The body of a deceased person shall not be liable to be taken for debt or damages on execution or upon any process whatsoever; and if any officer shall, under color of an execution or process, seize or take the body of any deceased person for debt or damages, he or she shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-18-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-18 / Section 9-18-13
§ 9-18-13. Manner of taking deposition in perpetual memory.
Status: in_force

The same formalities shall be observed as to notice, and the same methods may be employed, in the taking of depositions in perpetual memory as in the taking of other depositions, and the officer taking the deposition shall have the same power and authority as magistrates taking other depositions to compel any person to appeal and depose as provided in this chapter, within this state, in the same manner as to appear and testify in court. In case any person who is entitled to notice of the taking of the deposition shall be or reside outside of this state, the notice may be served by any disinterested person, and such other notice shall be given as the justice to whom the petition was presented may order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-17-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-17 / Section 9-17-1
§ 9-17-1. Form of subpoena.
Status: in_force

The form of subpoena to a witness shall be substantially as follows:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-32-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-32 / Section 9-32-5
§ 9-32-5. Fees.
Status: in_force

Any person filing a foreign judgment shall pay to the clerk of court the filing fee required by the court. Fees for docketing, transcription, or other enforcement proceedings shall be as provided for judgments of the court of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-51 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-51
§ 9-1-51. Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) All claims or causes of action brought against a perpetrator defendant by any person for recovery of damages for injury suffered as a result of sexual abuse shall be commenced within the later to expire of:

(i) Thirty-five (35) years of the act alleged to have caused the injury or condition; or

(ii) Seven (7) years from the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act.

Provided, however, that the time limit or commencement of such an action under this section shall be tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age. For the purposes of this section, sexual abuse shall have the same meaning as in subsection (e) of this section.

(2) All claims or causes of action brought against a non-perpetrator defendant by any person alleging negligent supervision of a person that sexually abused a minor, or that the non-perpetrator defendants conduct caused or contributed to the childhood sexual abuse by another person to include, but not be limited to, wrongful conduct, neglect or default in supervision, hiring, employment, training, monitoring, or failure to report and/or the concealment of sexual abuse of a child shall be commenced within the later to expire of:

(i) Thirty-five (35) years of the act or acts alleged to have caused an injury or condition to the minor; or

(ii) Seven (7) years from the time the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act.

Provided, however, that the time limit or commencement of such an action under this section shall be tolled for a child until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age.

For purposes of this section sexual abuse shall have the same meaning as in subsection (e) of this section.

(3) As to a perpetrator defendant, any claim or cause of action based on conduct of sexual abuse may be commenced within the time period enumerated in subsections (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) regardless if the claim was time-barred under previous version of the general laws.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (a)(3) herein, any claim or cause of action based on conduct of sexual abuse or conduct that caused or contributed to sexual abuse, if the action is not otherwise time-barred under previous version of the general laws on the effective date of this section, may be commenced within the time period enumerated in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.

(b) The victim need not establish which act in a series of continuing sexual abuse or exploitation incidents caused the injury complained of, but may compute the date of discovery from the date of the last act by the same perpetrator which is part of a common scheme or plan of sexual abuse or exploitation.

(c) The knowledge of a custodial parent or guardian shall not be imputed to a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.

(d) For purposes of this section, child means a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.

(e) As used in this section, sexual abuse means any act committed by the defendant against a complainant who was less than eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the act and which act would have been a criminal violation of chapter 37 of title 11.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-20 / Section 9-20-5
§ 9-20-5. Assumption of risk in use of off-road vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 9-20-4, in any legal action against the state or any political subdivision thereof, an operator or passenger of: (1) a recreational vehicle as defined in § 31-3.2-1(8) or (2) a snowmobile as defined in § 31-3.2-1(11), or (3) an all terrain vehicle (A.T.V.), or (4) a motor vehicle primarily designed for use off public roads, shall while on state property assume as a matter of law the risks inherent in such operation insofar as they are obvious and necessary.

(b) The director of the department of environmental management shall post signs warning operators and passengers that they assume the risk of injury while on state property. Provided, however, that the lack of signs shall not be admissible in a suit for negligence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-41 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-41
§ 9-19-41. Expert witnesses in malpractice cases.
Status: in_force

In any legal action based upon a cause of action arising on or after January 1, 1987, for personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentists, or dental hygienist based on professional negligence, only those persons who by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education qualify as experts in the field of the alleged malpractice shall be permitted to give expert testimony as to the alleged malpractice.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-10-6 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-10 / Section 9-10-6
§ 9-10-6. Service prohibited unless name drawn.
Status: in_force

No person shall serve on any grand or petit jury in the courts of this state unless he or she shall have been drawn as hereinbefore provided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-1
§ 9-34-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-20 / Section 9-20-4.1
§ 9-20-4.1. No setoff of damages.
Status: in_force

There shall be no setoff of damages between the respective parties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-44 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-44
§ 9-1-44. Civil action for release of names of minors.
Status: in_force

(a) No member of any municipal or state agency shall release the identity of any minor who is believed to be a victim of a violation of any law except with the consent of his or her parent or guardian. This section shall not prevent the release of the identity of minors involved in a violation of a motor vehicle law or involved in a motor vehicle accident.

(b) Any person found to be in violation of the provisions of this section shall be liable to the minor in a civil action brought on behalf of the minor for compensatory damages and court costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-34-9 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-34 / Section 9-34-9
§ 9-34-9. Statute of limitations.
Status: in_force

An action to recognize a foreign-country judgment must be commenced within the earlier of the time during which the foreign-country judgment is effective in the foreign country or twenty (20) years from the date that the foreign-country judgment became effective in the foreign country.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-32 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-32
§ 9-19-32. Informed consent a preliminary question.
Status: in_force

In actions against physicians as defined in § 5-37-1, hospitals, clinics, health maintenance organizations, or professional service corporations providing health care services and organized under chapter 5.1 of title 7 for malpractice in providing treatment to patients, issues of informed consent or reasonable disclosure of all known material risks shall be initially considered by the court as preliminary questions of fact. Such issues shall be submitted to the jury by the court only in the event that it finds, after weighing the evidence and considering the credibility of the witnesses, that reasonable minds might fairly come to different conclusions in respect to such issues on the basis of the evidence presented and inferences to be drawn therefrom.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-9-14.2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-9 / Section 9-9-14.2
§ 9-9-14.2. Time of selections.
Status: in_force

Whenever jurors are drawn by the use of electronic data processing equipment, in accordance with the provisions of § 9-9-14.1, the drawing shall take place at such dates and times during the month of March of each year as may be selected by the jury commissioner, with the approval of the presiding justice of the superior court, and drawings may be held at other times throughout the year, if deemed necessary by the jury commissioner and the presiding justice.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-2
§ 9-35-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

In this chapter:

(1) Canada means the sovereign nation of Canada and its provinces and territories. Canadian has a corresponding meaning.

(2) Canadian judgment means a judgment of a court of Canada, other than a judgment that recognizes the judgment of another foreign country.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-45 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-45
§ 9-1-45. Attorneys fees in breach of contract actions.
Status: in_force

The court may award a reasonable attorneys fee to the prevailing party in any civil action arising from a breach of contract in which the court:

(1) Finds that there was a complete absence of a justiciable issue of either law or fact raised by the losing party; or

(2) Renders a default judgment against the losing party.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-27.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-27.1
§ 9-1-27.1. Good Samaritan  Immunity from liability.
Status: in_force

No person who voluntarily and gratuitously renders emergency assistance to a person in need thereof including the administration of life saving treatment to those persons suffering from anaphylactic shock shall be liable for civil damages which result from acts or omissions by such persons rendering the emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence. This immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-24-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-24 / Section 9-24-11
§ 9-24-11. Hearing and determination of appeals.
Status: in_force

Upon any cause being brought by appeal to the supreme court, that court shall hear and determine the appeal and affirm, reverse, or modify the decree or judgment appealed from, and make such orders and decrees therein as shall be just.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-12
§ 9-25-12. Form of execution against trustee or trust estate.
Status: in_force

In every execution issued against any defendant in an action or suit in which another person shall have been charged as the trustee of the defendant, there shall be inserted next after the words goods and chattels and real estate of the defendant the words and especially the personal estate of the said defendant in the hands or possession of (here insert the name of the trustee) charged as trustee of the said defendant to the extent of (here insert the amount for which the trustee is charged); or if the trustee shall be charged by his or her default in not filing the necessary affidavit in the cause, insert in lieu of the clause fixing the extent to which the trustee shall be charged, after the words charged as trustee of the said defendant, the words by the default of the said trustee to file his or her affidavit in said cause.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-12 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-21 / Section 9-21-12
§ 9-21-12. Mandatory conference to consider periodic payments of judgment.
Status: in_force

In any action to recover damages for personal injury, injury to property, or wrongful death for which a judgment of one hundred fifty thousand ($150,000) dollars or more is entered, a post-judgment conference shall be held after the court has decided any motion for new trial, whether the motion is for retrial on liability and damages or for additur or remittitur, at which the trial judge, plaintiff(s)s counsel, and defendant(s)s counsel shall be present. The conference will be for the purpose of determining the viability of a voluntary agreement for payment of the judgment in periodic installments.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-21-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-21 / Section 9-21-11
§ 9-21-11. Restraining orders  Notification of local authorities.
Status: in_force

The clerk of the superior court of each county may, if requested by the prevailing partys attorney, immediately forward a certified copy of any restraining order issued by a justice of the superior court to the police department of the municipality in which the prevailing party is domiciled whenever the order enjoins one party from interfering with the person of another.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-5-34 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-5 / Section 9-5-34
§ 9-5-34. Appointment of attorney by foreign corporations.
Status: in_force

Every foreign corporation that manufactures products that are sold in the state shall file in the office of the secretary of state a written power appointing some competent person resident in this state as its attorney with authority to accept service of process against the corporation in the state, containing an agreement on the part of the maker that the service of any lawful process in this state on the attorney shall be of the same force and validity as service on the corporation; provided, however, that in case no written power appointing an attorney for service for the foreign corporation is filed, then the secretary of state shall be the attorney for service for the foreign corporation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-27 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-27
§ 9-19-27. Evidence of charges for medical and hospital services and for prescriptions and orthopedic appliances  Evidence required from hospital medical records.
Status: in_force

(a) This section is enacted primarily to relieve physicians and the other medical professionals defined herein who are associated with hospitals and other health care facilities from the hardship and inconvenience of attending court as witnesses, therefore in interpreting this section and the medical records exception to the hearsay rules of evidence in court or other related proceedings, the trial courts of this state shall liberally construe this section to admit what is presumptively reliable medical evidence presented by way of this statutory process without the necessity of calling numerous medical personnel as witnesses.

(b) In any proceeding commenced in any court, commission, or agency, an itemized bill and reports, whether originating within this state or any other state, including hospital or health care facility, medical records, relating to medical, dental, hospital services, prescriptions, or orthopedic appliances rendered to or prescribed for a person injured, and/or any report of any examination of the injured person, including, but not limited to, hospital medical records and written statements made by the physician or dentist whether contemporaneous with the treatment or not, subscribed and sworn to under the penalties of perjury by the physician, dentist, or authorized agent of the hospital or health care facility rendering the services or by the pharmacist or retailer of orthopedic appliances, shall be admissible as evidence of the fair and reasonable charge for the services and/or the necessity of the services or treatment, the diagnosis of the physician or dentist, the prognosis of the physician or dentist; the opinion of the physician or dentist as to proximate cause of the condition so diagnosed, and the opinion of the physician or dentist as to disability, incapacity or permanency, if any, proximately resulting from the condition so diagnosed. Such affidavit may incorporate by reference such other records or written statements as are relied upon by the affiant in reaching the opinions set forth in the affidavit, if of a type reasonably and customarily relied upon by such providers, and which shall thereby provide the necessary foundation for the record relied upon to be independently introduced as an exhibit in accordance with the terms herein.

The authorized agent of the hospital or health care facility shall be deemed the proper agent to subscribe and swear to said written statements contained in its medical records as the authorized agent for physicians employed by said hospital or clinic, and rendering treatment to the patient during the course of his or her employment. Said records shall not be deemed inadmissible because the physician so employed by the hospital or health care facility has not subscribed to the affidavit.

Provided, further, that written notice of the intention to offer the bill or report as such evidence, together with a copy thereof, has been given to the opposing party or parties, or to his or her or their attorneys, by mailing the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than ten (10) days before the introduction of the bill or report into evidence, and that an affidavit of the notice and the return receipt is filed with the clerk of the court forthwith after the receipt has been returned. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the right of any party to the action to summon or depose, at his or her own expense, the physician, dentist, pharmacist, retailer of orthopedic appliances, or agent of the hospital for the purpose of cross examination with respect to the bill, record, and report or to rebut the contents thereof, or for any other purpose, nor to limit the right of any party to the action to summon or depose any other person to testify in respect to the bill, record, and/or report or for any other purpose.

The adverse party shall be entitled at the expense of the proponent of the affidavit to a reasonable opportunity for cross-examination, not to exceed one hour at the office of the physician or other expert witness. Additional time for cross-examination shall be at the adverse partys expense. The expert witness fee provided by the proponent of the expert and the additional fee, if required on the part of the adverse party, may be included in the costs of the case payable to the prevailing party. The time and method of the payment or taxing of such costs shall be subject to the order of the trial court.

(c) The words physician, and dentist shall not include any person who is not licensed to practice as such under the laws of the jurisdiction within which the services were rendered, but shall include chiropodists, chiropractors, optometrists, osteopaths, physical therapists, psychologists, paramedics or rescue or emergency medical service personnel or ambulating services and other medical, mental health care or social work personnel licensed to practice under title 5 or under the laws of the jurisdiction within which the services were rendered; provided, that said chiropodists, chiropractors, optometrists, osteopaths, physical therapists, psychologists, and other medical, mental health care, or social work personnel subscribes to said statements designating his or her licensure, and specifying his or her authority to subscribe in said capacity.

(d) The word hospital shall mean any hospital required to incorporate under title 7, or which is in any way licensed or regulated by the laws of any other state, or by the laws and regulations of the United States, including hospitals of the veterans administration or similar type institutions, whether incorporated or not.

(e) The words health care facility includes those entities referred to in § 23-17-2(9) except to the extent that paramedic or rescue or emergency medical service personnel or ambulatory service are excluded.

(f) Any party objecting to the admitting into evidence of the affidavit shall file an objection specifying the grounds thereof within ten (10) days of receipt of the affidavit, or said objections are waived.

(g) Consistent with federal and state constitutional and statutory guarantees nothing in this section shall be construed so as to limit the right of a defendant in a criminal case to confront and cross examine witnesses.

(h) These provisions shall not apply to claims for personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentist, or dental hygienist based on professional negligence.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-24-16 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-24 / Section 9-24-16
§ 9-24-16. Notice to parties of decisions.
Status: in_force

The clerk shall give immediate notice to the parties, or to their attorneys of record, of final decisions in causes heard by the court without a jury, of decisions upon motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment, and of decisions upon all interlocutory matters, in such manner as the court shall by general rule or special order prescribe; provided, that if any such decision shall be rendered immediately upon the close of a hearing, the notice shall not be required.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-13 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-26 / Section 9-26-13
§ 9-26-13. Sale at auction  Surplus proceeds.
Status: in_force

In case the owner shall not redeem them as provided in § 9-26-12, and in case they are not sold under special order, the officer shall sell the goods or chattels at public auction to the highest bidder, and in any case if any surplus shall remain after the debt or damages and costs and charges are paid, the surplus shall be delivered by the officer to the owner or to any person legally qualified on his or her behalf to receive the surplus.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-25-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-25 / Section 9-25-5
§ 9-25-5. Fee prerequisite to issuance.
Status: in_force

No person shall be entitled to an execution until the fee therefor shall have been paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-14 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-14
§ 9-30-14. Provisions severable.
Status: in_force

The several sections and provisions of this chapter, except §§ 9-30-1 and 9-30-2, are hereby declared independent and severable, and the invalidity, if any, of any part or feature thereof shall not affect or render the remainder of the chapter invalid or inoperative.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-28-5 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-28 / Section 9-28-5
§ 9-28-5. Decree for installment payments on judgment  Finding of inability to pay.
Status: in_force

If the court finds that the debtor is able to pay the judgment in full or by partial payments, from time to time, it shall, after first allowing the debtor out of his or her income a reasonable sum for the support of himself or herself or the support of himself or herself and family, if he or she has a family, enter a decree fixing the time, place, and amount of payments to be made by the debtor on the judgment out of his or her income in excess of the allowance. If the court entering the decree finds that the debtor is not able at the time to pay the judgment in full or by partial payments, from time to time, it shall enter a finding to that effect which shall be subject to revision on like notice and inquiry and on proof of changed circumstances of the debtor; but no subsequent citation to the debtor shall issue until the creditor or some one in his or her behalf has filed in court an affidavit setting forth evidence of such a change in the circumstances of the debtor as shall satisfy the court that a new inquiry as to the debtors ability to pay the judgment shall be made.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-12-10 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-12 / Section 9-12-10
§ 9-12-10. Claim of appeal of superior court.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided, in all civil cases in the district court, any party may cause the case to be removed for trial on all questions of law and fact to the superior court for the county in which division the suit is pending by claiming an appeal from the judgment of the district court, in writing, filed with the clerk of the division within two (2) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the judgment is entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal, at the time of claiming the appeal, shall pay to the clerk all costs, including an attorneys fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), for the party or parties adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the clerk to the attorney for the adverse party. The attorneys fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be divided equally among the attorneys for the parties adversely interested when more than one adverse party is involved; and provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed, exclusive of the attorneys fee, at a sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), in addition to a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-19-43 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-19 / Section 9-19-43
§ 9-19-43. Report of laboratory test.
Status: in_force

(a) In any proceeding commenced in any court, commission, or agency, the report of analytical personnel employed by the state department of health to determine the presence of controlled substances in any specimen which has been subscribed and sworn to under the penalties of perjury by the person making the examination which was the basis for the report shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated therein in any such proceeding. Provided, however, that if the report is to be offered at trial, written notice of the intention to offer the report as evidence, together with a copy thereof, must be given to the opposing party or parties, or to his or her or their attorneys, by mailing the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than ten (10) days before the introduction of the report into evidence, and that an affidavit of the notice and the return receipt is filed with the clerk of the court forthwith after the receipt has been returned. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the right of any party to summon the person subscribing to the statement for the purpose of cross examination with respect to the report or to rebut the contents thereof or for any other purpose, nor to limit the right of any party to summon any other person to testify with respect to the report or for any other purpose, nor to limit the right of any party to summon the business records of any person offering the report.

(b) Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the court, in its discretion, from requiring the appearance of the person making the report at any proceeding.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-16 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-30 / Section 9-30-16
§ 9-30-16. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-15-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-15 / Section 9-15-3
§ 9-15-3. Certification of rule to another county.
Status: in_force

Leave may be given under § 9-15-2, in the superior court, to enter the rule in any county, to be certified to the county where the matter more properly belongs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-3 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-3
§ 9-35-3. Applicability.
Status: in_force

(a) This chapter applies to a Canadian judgment to the extent the judgment is within the scope of § 9-34-3, if recognition of the judgment is sought to enforce the judgment.

(b) A Canadian judgment that grants both recovery of a sum of money and other relief may be registered under this chapter, but only to the extent of the grant of recovery of a sum of money.

(c) A Canadian judgment regarding subject matter both within and not within the scope of this chapter may be registered under this chapter, but only to the extent the judgment is with regard to subject matter within the scope of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-35-8 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-35 / Section 9-35-8
§ 9-35-8. Stay of enforcement of judgment pending determination of petition.
Status: in_force

A person that files a petition under § 9-35-7(a) to vacate registration of a Canadian judgment may request the court to stay enforcement of the judgment pending determination of the petition. The court shall grant the stay if the person establishes a likelihood of success on the merits with regard to a ground listed in § 9-35-7(b) for vacating a registration. The court may require the person to provide security in an amount determined by the court as a condition of granting the stay.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-13-2 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-13 / Section 9-13-2
§ 9-13-2. Extension of time for proceedings by consent.
Status: in_force

The parties to a cause, by consent in writing, may extend the time of pleading or the periods within which proceedings in court are prescribed to be taken.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-2.1 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-1 / Section 9-1-2.1
§ 9-1-2.1. Civil liability for stalking.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who suffers harm pursuant to chapter 59 of title 11 may recover his or her damages in a civil action against the offender.

(b) As used in this section:

(1) Course of conduct means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, evidencing a continuity of purpose. Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of course of conduct.

(2) Harasses means following a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys, or bothers the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct must be of a kind that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, or be in fear of bodily injury.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-12-11 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-12 / Section 9-12-11
§ 9-12-11. Transmission of papers to superior court  Assignment for trial.
Status: in_force

If an appeal is claimed, the case and the papers shall, on the next court day of the district court, be certified and forthwith transmitted to the superior court for the county wherein the division is situated, and the case shall be in order for assignment for trial in accordance with applicable procedural rules after ten (10) days from the certification, but if the case is for tenement let, or held at will or by sufferance, and including leases of land, it shall at once be certified to the superior court, and shall be in order for assignment forthwith, and shall take precedence of other matters on the calendar.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-24-27 — RI Code / Title 9 / Chapter 9-24 / Section 9-24-27
§ 9-24-27. Certifications of questions of importance to the supreme court.
Status: in_force

Whenever in any proceedings, civil or criminal, legal or equitable, in the superior court or in any district court, any question of law shall arise or the constitutionality of an act of the general assembly shall be brought in question upon the record, which, in the opinion of the court, or in the opinion of the attorney general if the state is a party to the proceeding or if he or she has intervened therein, is of such doubt and importance and so affects the merits of the controversy that it ought to be determined by the supreme court before further proceedings, the court in which the cause is pending shall certify the question or motion to the supreme court for that purpose and stay all further proceedings until the question is heard and determined; provided, that no question shall be so certified in any criminal case where the defendant has not been released on bail.