2017 -- H 5855

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LC001716

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Keable, McEntee, and Knight

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (RI Supreme Court)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 9-8-3 and 9-8-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-8 entitled

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"Nonsuit and Discontinuance" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     9-8-3. Dismissal for lack of prosecution.

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     (a) The supreme court, the superior court, the family court, or the district court, or the

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traffic tribunal, may, at any time, in its discretion, dismiss actions at law and other proceedings

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for lack of prosecution which have been pending for five (5) years or more, after notice and

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opportunity for hearing.

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     (b) Notice that an action or proceeding will be in order for dismissal on a day certain

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shall be given by the moving party (or by the clerk if upon the court's own motion) by mailing

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written notice to the attorney of record, or if there is no attorney of record or the attorney has

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deceased, then to the party if his or her address appears in the papers of the case. In the event

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there is no attorney of record, or he or she is deceased, and the address of the party is unknown,

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notice may be given by insertion of a newspaper advertisement published in a daily newspaper

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which has circulation in the county or district where the action was instituted, at least once. A

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certificate of the notice given shall be placed in the papers by the clerk.

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     9-8-5. Annual action by court.

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     (a) Thereafter during the first week in February in each year, or as soon as thereafter is

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practicable, all actions at law, and other proceedings designated by the respective courts, deemed

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by the court to be inactive and then pending in the supreme court, the superior court, the family

 

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court, or the district court, or the traffic tribunal, for five (5) years or more, may be dismissed for

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lack of prosecution, without costs. Entries of such dismissals shall be made as of course by the

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clerk, upon order of the chief justice, presiding justice, or chief judges, or chief magistrate, of the

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respective courts, after notice has been duly given of the date upon which the cases will stand

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dismissed. The notice shall be given once a week for two (2) successive weeks at least three (3)

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weeks before the date in a newspaper having general circulation in the county or district where

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the action is pending.

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     (b) Upon the date any party desiring to be heard in opposition to dismissal of a case in

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which he or she appears may appear before the respective court (in the superior court before the

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presiding justice) and be heard thereon, and the court may in its discretion dismiss or stay

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dismissal of the case for such period as it may fix. Extensions of the period may also be granted.

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Any adversary party shall not be thereby prevented from making a special motion for dismissal

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within the period so fixed or extended.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY

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     This act would add the Rhode Island traffic tribunal to the list of courts afforded the

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ability to dismiss cases for lack of prosecution.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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