In re House of Representatives, 575 A.2d 176, 180 (R.I. 1990)
The court held that the proposed legislation, if enacted, would have transferred full prosecutorial authority vested in the state’s attorney general to a special prosecutor selected by the judicial branch of government in violation of the state constitution. Legislature may not “infringe [] upon the fundamental powers of the Attorney General.”
State ex rel. Whitehouse v. Lead Industries Association, 2001 R.I. Super. LEXIS 31, (R.I. Sup. Ct. April 2, 2001)
The Attorney General filed suit against a number of lead paint manufacturers and their trade association, alleging that the defendants misrepresented and concealed evidence regarding the hazards of lead. The state sought damages resulting from the substantial costs related to discovering and abating lead, including special education costs for children who have ingested lead paint….
Newport Realty, Inc. v. Lynch, 878 A.2d 1021 (R.I. 2005)
In a case involving the ownership of several streets on a wharf in Newport, the trial court held that plaintiffs owned the property. The Attorney General, representing the state, appealed. Plaintiffs argued that the Attorney General had no standing to enforce rights involving local roads. The Rhode Island Supreme Court held that the state’s Attorney…
Rhode Island v. Lead Industries Ass’n, 951 A.2d 428 (R.I. 2008).
Rhode Island brought a case against lead paint manufacturers alleging, among other claims, public nuisance claims. The Rhode Island Supreme Court dismissed the suit, but also upheld the Attorney General’s authority to hire outside counsel on a contingent fee basis. The court began by noting the broad authority given to the Attorney General by Rhode…
State v. Young, 941 A. 2d 124 (R.I. 2008)
The state filed charges against a mother for second degree child abuse of her minor child. By the time the case came to trial, the child was an adult, and asked the the charges be dismissed and that she be reunited with her mother. The Family Court dismissed the charges at the pretrial stage without…
