Court Opinion

ID: 9636330
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 14:24:26.12137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:44.318444
License: Public Domain

BEVILACQUA, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
After applying the general rules of statutory construction, I cannot agree with the majority’s interpretation of G.L.1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 8-6-2, as amended by P.L. 1975, ch. 222, § 1. In construing statutes, this court must determine the Legislature’s intent whenever it is within legislative competence. Great American Nursing Centers, Inc., v. Norberg, R.I., 439 A.2d 249, 252 (1981). In ascertaining the Legislature’s intent, we look to the language of the statute. Where the language is unambiguous *944and expresses a plain and sensible meaning, we will presume that meaning to be the one intended by the Legislature. Statewide Multiple Listing Service, Inc. v. Norberg, 120 R.I. 937, 392 A.2d 371 (1978).
Section 8-6-2 bars the courts from making a rule requiring disclosure by “discovery, motion to produce or interrogatory an income tax return, W-2 statement, or copies thereof.” This court cannot change a clear legislative directive by judicial decision. Therefore, the majority’s reliance on Moretta v. Moretta, 100 R.I. 220, 213 A.2d 808 (1965) is misplaced. Section 8-6-2 was enacted after the Moretta decision and takes individual determinations regarding the pretrial production of income tax returns out of the hands of the trial justice. This statute does not, however, prevent a trial justice from requiring the production of such documents during trial under the subpoena power.
For the reasons given, I respectfully dissent in the result reached by the majority, and, accordingly, I would grant the petition for certiorari and quash the order for the production of documents.