2014 -- H 7029

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LC003296

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING ITS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

ROBERT F. ARRIGAN, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE RHODE ISLAND WORKERS'

COMPENSATION COURT

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Fox, Newberry, Craven, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert Arrigan, former Chief Justice of the Rhode Island

Workers' Compensation Court, passed away on December 26, 2013, at his home in Juno Beach,

Florida. He was the beloved husband of Joan C. (Selwyn) Arrigan for 51 years; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Robert F. Arrigan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of

the late Leo E. and Antoinette M. (O’Connell) Arrigan, Sr. and was the beloved father of the late

Robert Paul Arrigan, loving brother of Frederick J. Arrigan, and his late wife Frances of

Warwick, and the late Leo E. Arrigan, Jr.; and

     WHEREAS, Robert was a graduate of LaSalle Academy and Providence College, and

attended the United States Naval Academy, the United States Army Air Defense School, and

served as a Captain with the United States Army Reserve. He received his J.D. from Georgetown

University Law School and was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1961; and

     WHEREAS, Robert Arrigan served as a Providence Municipal Court Judge from 1975 to

1978. He was appointed Commissioner of the Workers' Compensation Commission by Governor

J. Joseph Garrahy in 1978, and was appointed Vice-President of the Commission in 1984. Judge

Arrigan spearheaded the effort to transform the Commission to a court and was appointed its first

Chief Judge by Governor Bruce Sundlun in 1991, serving in that position until his retirement in

2002; and

     WHEREAS, During the course of his service as Chief, Judge Arrigan worked tirelessly to

transform a dysfunctional workers' compensation system into an international model of

efficiency. He worked closely with now Senator Whitehouse, the General Assembly and

Governor Sundlun to overhaul the entire workers' compensation system in Rhode Island to

include changes in the law, court procedures and the administration of justice. He then worked

tirelessly to implement these changes helping to make the system what it is today. Part of these

reforms included the creation and oversight of the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council and

the Workers' Compensation Medical Advisory Board; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Judge Arrigan’s dedication to the rule of law went beyond the

boundaries of his position as Chief Judge of the Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court. He

taught a course in Workers' Compensation at Roger Williams University that is the foundation of

workers' compensation professionals in Rhode Island that continues to this day. He also had been

active in the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, serving in

many leadership roles until eventually becoming its President. He was also a trustee of the

International Workers' Compensation College; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Arrigan also devoted much of his time to charitable endeavors. He

and his wife, Joan, co-chaired the Rhode Island Chapter of the Sovereign Order of the Knights

and Dames of Malta. Robert was a member of the Sons of Irish Kings, Friendly Sons of St.

Patrick, the University Club, Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club, and was a member of the

Georgetown University Alumni. He was also inducted into the LaSalle Academy Hall of Fame.

He leaves behind his wife, Joan Arrigan; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Chief Judge Robert F.

Arrigan; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Joan Arrigan.

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