(a)  The making of an agreement for arbitration shall be deemed a consent of the parties to the arbitration to the jurisdiction of the superior court of this state to enforce the agreement. A party aggrieved by the failure, neglect, or refusal of another to perform under a contract or submission providing for arbitration, may petition the superior court, or a judge of that court, for an order directing that the arbitration proceed in the manner provided for in the contract or submission.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 28-9-5

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.

(b)  Five (5) days’ notice in writing of the application shall be served upon the party in default. Service shall be made in the manner specified in the contract or submission, and if no manner of service is specified, then in the manner provided by law for personal service of a summons, within or without the state, or substituted service of a summons, or upon satisfactory proof that the aggrieved party has been or will be unable with due diligence to make service in any of the previously mentioned manners, then the notice shall be served in the manner that the court or judge directs.

(c)  A judge of the superior court shall hear the parties and upon being satisfied that there is no substantial issue as to the making of the contract or submission or the failure to comply with it, the court or the judge hearing the application shall make an order directing the parties to proceed to arbitration in accordance with the terms of the contract or submission.

History of Section.
P.L. 1955, ch. 3517, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 28-9-5.