Title 9
Courts and Civil Procedure — Procedure Generally

Chapter 1
Causes of Action

R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-36

§ 9-1-36. Enumeration of statutes of limitation.

The following compilation of statutes of limitation for civil actions is set forth as an aid to the public and is not intended to replace the specific statutes referred to herein. The omission of any statute of limitation from this list shall in no way affect the validity of that statute.

Section Civil Action Period of Limitation
 _________________________________________
6-27-7 Enforcement of penalty provisions of the Rhode Island Truth-in-Lending and Retail Selling Act   1 year
6-36-23 Enforcement of Antitrust Act   4 years
6A-2-725(1) Breach of contracts for sale of goods   4 years
6A-2-725(5) Breach of warranty in products liability actions   10 years
9-1-5 Liability of landlord for tenant improvements, oral lease of more than one year   1 year after original term
9-1-13(a) All civil actions not otherwise limited   10 years
9-1-13(b) Product liability actions   10 years from purchase
9-1-14 For words spoken   1 year
9-1-14 Injuries to the person, generally   3 years
9-1-14.1 Medical, veterinarian, accounting, insurance, or real estate agent or broker malpractice   3 years
9-1-14.2 "Agent Orange" or phenoxy herbicides actions   3 years
9-1-14.3 Legal malpractice   3 years
9-1-17 Contracts or liabilities under seal; judgment; decrees   20 years
9-1-25 Suit against state, city or town or by special act   3 years
9-1-29 Against contractors, architects or engineers based on design   10 years after substantial completion
9-1-41 Loss of consortium – Loss of society and companionship   3 years
9-3-6 To enforce hospital liens   1 year from payment
9-3-11 Against insurer to enforce repairer's lien   1 year from payment to insured
9-3-14 Against insurer to enforce motor vehicle lessor's lien   1 year from payment to insured
10-6-4 For contributions from joint tortfeasors   1 year after payment by other joint tortfeasor
10-7-2 Wrongful death; loss of consortium, companionship or society in wrongful death action   3 years
10-7-7 Pain and suffering in wrongful death action   3 years
10-7.1-2 Libel of deceased person   1 year after death if libel occurred within 3 months after death
10-12-10 Jail yard bond   1 year
15-8-4 To enforce support obligations of putative father   6 years
15-8-6 To determine paternity   4 years after birth
24-8-35 Damages caused by pothole in state road; $300 limit   7 days
27-5-3 Claims against insurers on fire insurance policies   24 months
27-18-3 Claims against insurers on accident and sickness insurance policies   3 years
28-5-18 Complaint by human rights commission to eliminate unlawful employment practice   1 year
28-35-57 Workers' Compensation claim   2 years
31-5.1-15 Involving the regulation of business practices among motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors and dealers   4 years
33-6-14 Against executor to recover annuity or interest given life tenant by will   1 year
33-11-50 By creditor of decedent, other than on fiduciary's bond   2 years
33-13-9 To recover legacies or to impress and preserve a lien or charge on real estate   6 years
33-13-15 Against liens by creditor with contingent claim not accruing within six (6) months of fiduciary's qualification   1 year from accrual
33-13-15 Against lien by creditor who from accident, mistake or other cause failed to file within six (6) months of qualification   3 years from publication
33-21.1-26 Judicial review of decision of general treasurer (or his or her failure to act) concerning unclaimed property   90 days after decision; 180 days after filing if no decision
34-4-24 Proceedings based upon right of entry for condition broken or possibility of reverter to which a fee simple or fee simple determinable in land is subject, created before May 11, 1953   No later than December 31, 1987
34-19-10 Alleging forcible entry and detainer of land   3 years
34-28-10 To enforce mechanic's lien; notice given   1 year and 120 days
34-28-10 To enforce mechanic's lien; no notice given   120 days
37-6-18 For assessment of damages in state condemnation proceedings   1 year
37-12-5 For labor, material, or equipment against contractor's bond   2 years (or longer if so provided in bond)
37-13.1-1 Against state on highway and public works contracts   1 year
37-16-17 To confirm arbitrator's award in public works arbitration   1 year
39-2-7 Against public utilities for violations under chapters 1 – 5 of title 39   3 years
39-12-28 By owners or holders of receipts or bills of lading against intrastate common carriers   2 years
44-5-26 For relief from local tax assessments   3 months from last day to pay without penalty
45-15-9 Against towns for injury or damage arising out of maintenance of highways, causeways or bridges   3 years (with 60 days’ notice after incident)
45-20-1 Judicial review of decision of bureau of police or fire or similar department for removing petitioner   30 days
45-29-7 For assessment of damages in housing authority condemnation proceeding; with notice   3 months
45-29-7 For assessment of damages in housing authority condemnation proceeding; no notice   1 year
45-32-34 For assessment of damages in redevelopment project condemnation proceeding; with notice   3 months
45-32-34 For assessment of damages in redevelopment project condemnation proceeding; no notice   1 year
46-5-6 For assessment of damages in department of environmental management condem-nation proceeding; with notice   6 months
46-5-6 For assessment of damages in department of environmental management condem-nation proceeding; no notice   1 year

History of Section.
P.L. 1982, ch. 388, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 392, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 542, § 5.