Opinion ID: 2097385
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Motion for New Trial in the Declaratory-Judgment Action

Text: After judgment entered on the declaratory-judgment action, the Connors moved for a new trial under Rule 59(a) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure. In their supporting memorandum, they specifically quoted the following language from this Court's decision in Corrado v. Providence Redevelopment Agency, 110 R.I. 549, 554-55, 294 A.2d 387, 390 (1972), setting forth the purported standard for the court's decision on their motion: the court in a nonjury civil action may review its own decision and grant a new trial only if it finds either a manifest error of law in the judgment previously entered or that there is newly discovered evidence not available at the original trial that is of sufficient importance to warrant a new trial. [17] In their memorandum in support of their motion, the Connors set forth essentially the same arguments they previously advanced in their motion for reconsideration. The plaintiffs' motion was denied after summary argument at a hearing on December 18, 2007, and an order to that effect entered that day. Contrary to the Connors' contentions, we are satisfied that the trial justice did not commit a manifest error of law in his judgment by failing to apply the proper legal standard with respect to plaintiffs' claims based on constructive trust and undue influence. Likewise, the Connors did not identify any newly discovered evidence that was not available at trial which was of sufficient importance to warrant a new trial. [18] We conclude, therefore, that the trial justice did not err in denying plaintiffs' motion for new trial in the declaratory-judgment action.