2014 -- S 2048

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LC003274

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T 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: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, McCaffrey, Lombardi, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2002; and

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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the Workers' Compensation Medical Advisory Board; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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International Workers' Compensation College; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby

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expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Chief Judge Robert F. Arrigan; and be it

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further

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

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

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