Opinion ID: 2277337
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: violation of consent order

Text: The respondent has claimed in count 1 of his complaint that petitioner violated a consent order that was by agreement of the parties designated a final administrative decision under the Administrative Procedures Act. Pursuant to this agreement, petitioner was to pay an administrative fine of $1,000 per month for each and every month that he remained in violation of the agreement. Count 1 of the complaint asks the Superior Court to enforce this agreement and to assess the penalty set forth by the parties. We believe that this claim bears a strong analogy to a motion to adjudge a litigant in civil contempt for violation of an order having the force of law. Such civil contempt proceedings have not historically been subject to jury trial in our state but have been addressed to the sound discretion of the trial justice. See, e.g., School Committee of North Providence v. North Providence Federation of Teachers, Local 920, 468 A.2d 272 (R.I. 1983); Brierly v. Brierly, 431 A.2d 410 (R.I. 1981); Marek v. Marek, 119 R.I. 841, 383 A.2d 1031 (1978); Shonting v. Shonting, 118 R.I. 475, 374 A.2d 797 (1977); Tente v. Tente 112 R.I. 636, 314 A.2d 149 (1974); see also Shillitani v. United States, 384 U.S. 364, 86 S.Ct. 1531, 16 L.Ed.2d 622 (1966) (identical standard in federal courts). In this instance the amount of the penalty was fixed by agreement of the parties and the only question (which invariably is raised in a contempt action) is whether the order or decree was violated. We are of the opinion that such a fact determination does not give rise to a right to trial by jury under the Rhode Island Constitution.