2022 -- H 7684

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LC003982

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --

EQUITY PRACTICE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Giraldo, Felix, Morales, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 9-14-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-14 entitled "Equity

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Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     9-14-26. Master's conveyance of property Arbiter's conveyance of property.

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     If a judgment directs a party to execute a conveyance of land or to deliver deeds or other

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documents or to perform any other specified acts and the party fails to comply within the time

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specified, the court may direct the act to be done at the cost of the disobedient party by a master an

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arbiter in chancery or some other person appointed by the court, and the act when so done has like

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effect as if done by the party.

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     SECTION 2. The title of Chapter 9-15 of the General Laws entitled "Referees, Auditors,

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and Masters in Chancery" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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CHAPTER 9-15

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Referees, Auditors, and Masters in Chancery

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CHAPTER 9-15

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REFEREES, AUDITORS, AND ARBITERS IN CHANCERY

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     SECTION 3. Sections 9-15-19, 9-15-20 and 9-15-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-15

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entitled "Referees, Auditors, and Masters in Chancery" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     9-15-19. Appointment of masters in chancery -- Rules and orders Appointment of

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arbiters in chancery -- Rules and orders.

 

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     The superior court, by a majority of the justices thereof, shall appoint in each county one

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or more standing masters arbiters in chancery to hold office during the pleasure of the court; and

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may make all such rules and orders, not contrary to law, with regard to proceedings before masters

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in chancery, their reports, and exceptions to and hearings on them, as to it shall seem expedient.

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     9-15-20. Protection of parties and witnesses in referred matters.

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     Masters Arbiters in chancery, auditors, and referees shall have the same power to issue

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writs of protection to parties and witnesses in matters pending before them as is possessed by the

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courts from which they derive their appointment, and the signing of such writs by any one master

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arbiter, auditor, or referee, who has been duly sworn, shall be sufficient.

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     9-15-21. Stenographic reports and transcripts.

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     Masters Arbiters in chancery, auditors, and referees may employ stenographers to report

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and transcribe the testimony taken in causes referred to them, and the cost of the reports and

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transcripts shall be allowed as part of the costs.

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --

EQUITY PRACTICE

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     This act would delete all uses of the word master as it relates to courts and replace it with

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the word arbiter.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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