§ 9-1-1 Action on promissory note
§ 9-1-2 Civil liability for crimes and offenses
§ 9-1-2.1 Civil liability for stalking
§ 9-1-3 Liability of parents for torts of minors
§ 9-1-3.1 Liability of parents and unemancipated minors for torts to each other
§ 9-1-4 Statute of frauds
§ 9-1-5 Liability of landlord for improvements to real estate by tenant by oral lease
§ 9-1-6 Causes and actions surviving death of parties
§ 9-1-7 Prosecution and defense of actions by executor or administrator
§ 9-1-8 Actual damages only to be granted after death of party
§ 9-1-9 Survival of actions for the recovery of possession of land
§ 9-1-10 Settlement of real estate title in action involving executor or administrator
§ 9-1-11 Survival of claims for damages in laying out of highways
§ 9-1-12 When action is commenced for purposes of statute of limitations
§ 9-1-13 Limitation of actions generally – Product liability
§ 9-1-14 Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries
§ 9-1-14.1 Limitation on malpractice actions
§ 9-1-14.2 Limitation of “Agent Orange” or phenoxy herbicides actions
§ 9-1-14.3 Limitation on legal malpractice actions
§ 9-1-14.4 Limitations on home inspector malpractice actions
§ 9-1-17 Limitation of actions on contracts or liabilities under seal and on judgments
§ 9-1-18 Effect of absence from state on limitations
§ 9-1-19 Disability postponing running of statute
§ 9-1-20 Time of accrual of concealed cause of action
§ 9-1-21 Effect of death of party on statute of limitations
§ 9-1-22 Extension of time after termination of action
§ 9-1-23 Effect of joinder of counts on limitation
§ 9-1-24 Special limitations provisions unaffected
§ 9-1-25 Time for bringing suit against state, political subdivision, city, or town
§ 9-1-26 Liability of hospitals
§ 9-1-27 Police and firefighters – Immunity from liability
§ 9-1-27.1 Good Samaritan – Immunity from liability
§ 9-1-27.2 Court appointed special advocate program – Immunity from liability
§ 9-1-27.3 Court appointed law clerk advocate program – Immunity from liability
§ 9-1-28 Action for unauthorized use of name, portrait, or picture
§ 9-1-28.1 Right to privacy – Action for deprivation of right
§ 9-1-29 Constructors of improvements to real property – Immunity from liability
§ 9-1-30 Demand for judgment in an action alleging personal injury, injury to property, or wrongful death – Exclusion of monetary amount
§ 9-1-31 Public school teachers, supervisors, and administrators – Immunity from liability – Compensation for certain injuries – Duty upon school committees and board of regents
§ 9-1-31.1 Members of public bodies – Exemption from liability
§ 9-1-32 Effect of alteration of product after sale
§ 9-1-33 Insurer’s bad faith refusal to pay a claim made under any insurance policy
§ 9-1-34 Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation or automated external defibrillation – Immunity from liability
§ 9-1-35 Civil action for ethnic or religious intimidation and/or vandalism
§ 9-1-36 Enumeration of statutes of limitation
§ 9-1-37 Enumeration of periods of appeal
§ 9-1-38 Limitation of actions for medical expenses incurred by minors
§ 9-1-39 Civil action for desecration
§ 9-1-40 Civil liability for nonpayment of accident and sickness insurance by employer
§ 9-1-41 Loss of consortium – Loss of society and companionship
§ 9-1-42 Alienation of affection, criminal conversation, or seduction – Causes of action abolished
§ 9-1-43 Civil action for childsnatching
§ 9-1-44 Civil action for release of names of minors
§ 9-1-45 Attorney’s fees in breach of contract actions
§ 9-1-46 Affirmative defense of trespasser’s intent to commit a crime
§ 9-1-47 Loss of homemaker services
§ 9-1-48 Immunity from civil liability – Sports teams
§ 9-1-49 Correct corporate name and registered agent – Duty to provide
§ 9-1-50 Settled claims not paid within thirty (30) days
§ 9-1-51 Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child
§ 9-1-52 Cause of action for next lowest bidding qualified contractor
§ 9-1-53 Misclassification of employees – Civil action
§ 9-1-54 Civil action against employer by employee under subpoena

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 9-1 - Causes of Action

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • 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
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • 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.
  • Law clerk: Assist judges with research and drafting of opinions.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • real estate: may be construed to include lands, tenements, and hereditaments and rights thereto and interests therein. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-10
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • seal: shall be construed to include an impression of the seal made with or without the use of wax or wafer on the paper. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-15
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • town council: include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8