COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE, the official text

H7642 2026 -- H 7642 ======== LC005100 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE Introduced By: Representative Susan R. Donovan Date Introduced: February 11, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary (Judiciary) It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Sections 9-12-10 and 9-12-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-12 entitled 2 District Court Practice are hereby amended to read as follows: 3 9-12-10. Claim of appeal of superior court Claim of appeal to the superior court in 4 civil cases. 5 Except as otherwise provided, in all civil cases in the district court, any party may cause 6 the case to be removed for trial on all questions of law and fact to the superior court for the county 7 in which division the suit is pending by claiming an appeal from the judgment of the district court, 8 in writing, filed with the clerk of the division within two (2) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, 9 and legal holidays, after the judgment is entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal, at 10 the time of claiming the appeal, shall pay to the clerk all costs, including an attorney’s fee of fifty 11 dollars ($50.00), for the party or parties adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the clerk 12 to the attorney for the adverse party. The attorney’s fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be divided 13 equally among the attorneys for the parties adversely interested when more than one adverse party 14 is involved; and provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed, exclusive of the attorney’s fee, at a 15 sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), in addition to a seventy-five dollar ($75.00) filing 16 fee, inclusive of a civil case processing fee and a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with 17 § 8-15-11. 18 9-12-10.1. Claim of appeal to superior court in landlord tenant actions. 1 In any civil action pursuant to chapter 18 of title 34, in the district court or other appropriate 2 court, any party may cause the case to be removed for trial on all questions of law and fact to the 3 superior court for the county in which division the suit is pending, by claiming an appeal from the 4 judgment of the district or other appropriate court, in writing, filed with the clerk of the division 5 within five (5) days , inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays, after the judgment is 6 entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal at the time of claiming the appeal, shall pay to 7 the clerk all costs, including an attorney’s fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the party or parties 8 adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the clerk to the attorney for the adverse party; 9 provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed, exclusive of the attorney’s fee, at a sum less than 10 twenty-five dollars ($25.00), in addition to a seventy-five dollar ($75.00) filing fee, inclusive of a 11 civil case processing fee and a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11. 12 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. ======== LC005100 ======== LC005100 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE *** 1 This act would provide amendments to the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from 2 certain matters adjudicated by the district court. 3 This act would take effect on January 1, 2027. ======== LC005100 ======== LC005100 - Page 3 of 3