September 23, 2026
9:30 am
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SU-2025-0174-A
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Walter Moore v. Rhode Island office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Sonya Deyoe
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Gina Lemay
Matthew Oliverio
Chelsea Baittinger |
The plaintiff appeals from the entry of summary judgment in favor of the defendants. The plaintiff contends that he was entitled to certain non-salary benefits when he was transferred to a classified position in the Office of Internal Audit. The plaintiff contends that the hearing judge erred in ruling that certain benefits were not available to classified employees. |
September 23, 2026
9:50 am
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SU-2024-0326-A
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Jolene Senna V. Joanna L' Heureux in her Capacity as Finance Director for the City of Pawtucket, et al.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Scott P. Tierney
John DiMeglio
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Caroline Howerton
Marc DeSisto |
The plaintiff appeals from a final judgment entered in favor of the defendants, the Pawtucket finance director and the Pawtucket Water Supply Board. The plaintiff contends that the trial judge erred in deciding that the city was shielded from liability under the public duty doctrine as the distribution of water is not a governmental function covered by the doctrine. The plaintiff argues that the judge should have upheld the jury verdict finding that the Pawtucket Water Supply Board was negligent in maintaining a metal curb box which was part of the water distribution system. |
September 23, 2026
10:10 am
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SU-2024-0044-CA
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State of Rhode Island v. Jean Diaz De La Rosa
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Christopher R. Bush
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Kara Hoopis Manosh
Elizabeth Payette |
This case is before the Court on appeal by the defendant from a judgment of conviction on two counts of first-degree child abuse. On appeal, defendant asserts that the trial judge erred: (1) in denying defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal, given that the state failed to present evidence consistent with the bill of particulars; and (2) in denying his motion to suppress his statement given to the Johnston police. |
September 23, 2026
11:00 am
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SU-2023-0080-CA
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State of Rhode Island v. Robert Furlong
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Sean Paul Malloy
Counsel for Defendant(s):
George J. West |
This case is before the Court on appeal by the defendant from an order denying his motion to dismiss a criminal indictment, based on double-jeopardy grounds. On appeal, defendant asserts that the Superior Court judge erred because double jeopardy bars his retrial given that his plea of nolo contendere was vacated sua sponte during postconviction proceedings, over defendant’s objection, and after service of five years of the incarcerated portion of his sentence. |
September 24, 2026
9:30 am
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SU-2025-0087-A
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Congdon Hill, LLC v. Roger N. Carlsten, as Trustee of the Carlsten Children's Trust
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Michael J. Lepizzera, Jr.
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Christopher M. Mulhearn |
This case is before the Court on the plaintiff’s appeal from the entry of final judgment in favor of the defendant, in this breach of contract action. The plaintiff argues that the trial judge erred in determining that it breached the terms of the purchase and sale agreement. It also contends that it was the defendant who in fact breached the agreement and that the trial judge erred in calculating damages. |
September 24, 2026
9:50 am
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SU-2025-0103-CA
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State of Rhode Island v. James Duffy Jr.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Christopher R. Bush
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Kara Hoopis Manosh |
This case is before the Court on appeal by the defendant from a judgment of conviction after jury trial on one count of second-degree child molestation and four counts of simple assault. On appeal before this Court, defendant claims that the trial judge erred in denying his motion for new trial because the evidence was legally insufficient to support a conviction of second-degree child molestation. |
September 24, 2026
10:10 am
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SU-2023-0100-MP
SU-2023-0147-MP
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Miguel Davis v. Ashbel Wall et al.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Angela M. Yingling
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Christopher R. Bush |
These consolidated matters are before the Court on the petitions for writ of certiorari of the postconviction relief applicant. Petitioner was convicted on one count of first-degree murder, one count of discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a firearm without a license, for which he received consecutive life sentences, and a 10-year term, to be served concurrently with the first life sentence. He asserts that the postconviction relief judge erred in denying his claim of ineffective assistance of his trial counsel. He argues that counsel was ineffective because he failed to move for a mistrial after the prosecutor detailed the contents of a purported witness’ testimony in his opening statement and the witness subsequently invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege. Thereafter, trial counsel was barred from making an “Empty Chair” argument in his closing. |
September 24, 2026
11:00 am
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SU-2025-0291-MP
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Stacy Knell v. Avco Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron, Inc. Lycoming Engines, and Operating Division of Avco Corporation, and John Does 1-5
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Austin Dana
Counsel for Defendant(s):
John A. Tarantino
Nicole J. Benjamin |
This is a certified question from the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island stemming from a products liability action following a plane crash. The certified question relates to whether a foreign corporation’s compliance with Rhode Island’s registration statute provides express consent to personal jurisdiction in the state. |
September 30, 2026
9:30 am
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SU-2025-0122-A
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Brenda Howard v. Nelson Rodrigues et al.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Ronald L. Bonin
Allison Hanson Delyani
James Thomas Hornstein, Jr.
Carl H. Hurvich
Alton William Wiley
Austin B. Cabral
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Kelsey Walkup
Daniel R. Sumner |
In this dog-bite case, the plaintiff appeals from an order granting summary judgment in favor of two of the defendants. |
September 30, 2026
9:50 am
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SU-2025-0097-CA
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State of Rhode Island v. Bradley Peterson
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Christopher R. Bush
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Bradley Peterson, Pro Se |
This case is before the Court on appeal by the defendant from the execution of nine years, nine months of a suspended sentence, in this probation violation matter. The state alleges that he violated the terms of his probation by stalking a television news anchor. |
September 30, 2026
10:10 am
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SU-2024-0223-CA
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State of Rhode Island v. Aaron Lewis
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Christopher R. Bush
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Kara Hoopis Manosh |
The defendant appeals from a judgment of conviction for two counts of first-degree sexual assault. The defendant contends that the trial judge erred in denying his motion to dismiss, as the uncontroverted evidence at trial indicated that the complainant was not incapacitated. The defendant also contends that the trial judge erred in permitting a nurse’s expert opinion on the complaining witness’ injuries being consistent with forced penetration. The defendant further contends that the trial judge erred in permitting the nurse to provide hearsay testimony concerning the sexual assault. |
September 30, 2026
11:00 am
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SU-2024-0236-A
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IN RE R.S.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Alexander Brian Terry
Benjamin Copple
Catherine Costa
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Joseph A. Palmieri
Nicholas J. Hemond
Jodi M. Gladstone |
The respondent appeals from a decree terminating her parental rights to her son. She argues that the Family Court erred: (1) in finding her unfit to parent her son, (2) in finding that the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families had made reasonable efforts to correct the situation that led to the child’s removal from her care in the first instance, (3) in finding that it was in the child’s best interests to terminate her parental rights, and (4) in violating her procedural due process rights. |
October 1, 2026
9:30 am
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SU-2025-0239-MP
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IN RE M.P.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Benjamin Copple
Deborah A. Palumbo
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Patricia Byrnes |
This case is before the Court on the petition for writ of certiorari made by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), from a Family Court decree entered as part of an administrative appeal. The decree directed that DCYF amend findings in its registry indicating that the plaintiff was found to have committed child abuse, to instead indicate that DCYF had dismissed those findings. |
October 1, 2026
9:50 am
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SU-2025-0178-CA
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State Of Rhode Island v. James J. Powers
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Christopher R. Bush
Julia Alexandra Stern
Counsel for Defendant(s):
James J. Powers, Pro Se |
This case is before the Court on appeal by the pro se defendant from an order granting in part and denying in part his motion to correct a judgment of conviction. Before this Court, defendant asserts that the hearing judge erred in declining to amend the judgment entered in 1982 to specify that he was convicted on one count of felony murder, rather than just “murder”. |
October 1, 2026
10:10 am
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SU-2025-0039-A
SU-2025-0040-A
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Harriet Kniffer, et al. v. Rhode Island Airport Corporation, et al.
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Adam David Ferrare
Lauren E. Jones
Gregory Massad
Neil P. Philbin
Alexa Massad Powers
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Colten Hilton Erickson
Stephen David Nelson
Elizabeth McDonough Noonan
Daniel J. Procaccini
Todd D. White
Annette P. Jacques
Gregory S. Schultz
Joshua Dunn |
The plaintiffs appeal from a judgment assessing just compensation for avigation easements over the plaintiffs’ properties condemned by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) on behalf of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. The plaintiffs also appeal from a declaratory judgment declaring that the condemnations were valid and that RIDOT had the authority to make the condemnations. The plaintiffs argue that RIDOT did not have the authority to condemn the avigation easements. They also argue that the trial judge erred in instructing the jury that the easements began at 45 to 125 feet above the ground level of their properties. The plaintiffs further contend that they were entitled to enhanced damages from the condemnations. |
October 1, 2026
11:00 am
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SU-2024-0288-CA
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State of Rhode Island v. Brian Brownell
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Counsel for Plaintiff(s):
Christopher R. Bush
Brendan Patrick Sullivan
Counsel for Defendant(s):
Jodi M. Gladstone |
Defendant appeals from a conviction on two counts of first-degree sexual assault. He argues that errors were made in denying his motion to sever the trial on separate counts, admitting evidence of prior bad acts pursuant to Rule 404(b), admitting impeachment evidence pursuant to Rule 609, disallowing defendant from commenting during closing statement on a potential witness who did not testify pursuant to the empty chair doctrine, denying his motion for new trial, and instructing the jury on why defendant was in custody.
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