Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly

06/03/2026

The federal Labor Management Relations Act did not preempt state law retaliation and whistleblower claims brought by a union worker against his employer, a U.S. District Court judge has determined.

A federal judge ruled the LMRA did not preempt Rhode Island retaliation and whistleblower claims filed by a union ironworker.

06/02/2026

Opinion of the Day ⚖️ Where plaintiffs, having been terminated from the Child and Adult Care Food Program, filed a complaint alleging disparate treatment and disparate impact under ... CONTINUE:

Where plaintiffs, having been terminated from the Child and Adult Care Food Program, filed a complaint alleging disparate treatment and disparate impact under the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act, the dismissal of the complaint should be affirmed because the plaintiffs could have raised their discrimin...

06/02/2026

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of a day care center’s disparate treatment and disparate impact claims after it was terminated from the Child and Adult Care Food Program, finding that the discrimination allegations could have been raised before an administrative review official.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of a day care center’s discrimination claims, ruling res judicata bars claims not raised in administrative review.

06/01/2026

Opinion of the Day ⚖️ Where a defendant has filed an appeal challenging the denial of his motion to suppress cellphone records obtained through a search warrant and ... CONTINUE:

Where a defendant has filed an appeal challenging the denial of his motion to suppress cellphone records obtained through a search warrant and his motion to suppress evidence from a DNA buccal swab, the defendant’s convictions should be affirmed because (1) the search warrant affidavit established...

06/01/2026

A U.S. District Court judge has found four school officials to be protected by the qualified immunity doctrine in a suit brought against them under the Protection of Pupils’ Rights Amendment, 20 U.S.C. §1232h.

A Rhode Island federal judge granted qualified immunity to four school officials in a Protection of Pupils’ Rights Amendment dispute over a parental opt-out.

05/29/2026

Opinion of the Day ⚖️ Where an auto insurer requested a judgment declaring that a widow’s recovery in her wrongful death action was limited to a $50,000 ... CONTINUE:

Where an auto insurer requested a judgment declaring that a widow’s recovery in her wrongful death action was limited to a $50,000 per-person amount rather than the $100,000 per-accident amount, a Superior Court judge’s decision to grant that request should be affirmed under Allstate Insurance C...

05/29/2026

A widow whose husband died after another vehicle collided with his car could only recover the $50,000 per-person amount, rather than the $100,000 per-accident sum in the other driver’s insurance policy, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has ruled.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a widow's recovery under an auto policy is limited to the $50,000 per-person amount, not the $100,000 per-accident sum.

05/28/2026

Opinion of the Day ⚖️ Where (1) an attorney’s law partner represented a client in a family law matter until withdrawal in late 2025 and (2) the client has requested copies of ... CONTINUE:

Where (1) an attorney’s law partner represented a client in a family law matter until withdrawal in late 2025 and (2) the client has requested copies of correspondence between the law partner and opposing counsel developed during the representation, such documents lack the traditional indicia of w...

05/28/2026

🏆 Join us next week for our Excellence in the Law awards event! 🏆

At this event, you’ll gather with your peers to celebrate excellence in all areas of the Rhode Island legal community.

Registration 🔗: https://bit.pulse.ly/eygpmfrvmn

05/28/2026

An attorney whose law partner represented a client in a family law matter until withdrawing in late 2025 should comply with the client’s request for copies of correspondence between the law partner and opposing counsel developed during the representation, the Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel has decided.

Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Panel rules clients must receive correspondence between former counsel and opposing counsel developed during representation.