Court Opinion

ID: 9711420
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:31:28.650604+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:04.779054
License: Public Domain

ROBINSON, Justice,
concurring.
I concur fully in the majority’s opinion. In doing so, however, I do not retreat from the thoughts that I expressed in my recent dissenting opinion in the case of Town of Johnston v. Santilli, 892 A.2d 123, 133 (R.I.2006).
Even though I failed to persuade my colleagues in that case, I continue to be of the view that elected school committees have responsibilities and powers that differ radically from those of the ordinary departments of municipal government. With respect to the case at bar, however, I am content with the holding that a school committee lacks standing to bring an action for money damages. Since it is my understanding that any money recovered in such an action would have to be forwarded by the school committee to the municipal treasurer, it is entirely logical that the decision as to whether or not to sue a particular person or entity should be vested in the municipal body to which the treasurer reports.