| Chapter 283 |
| 2026 -- H 7642 Enacted 06/26/2026 |
| 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 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Sections 9-12-10 and 9-12-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-12 entitled |
| "District Court Practice" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 9-12-10. Claim of appeal of superior court Claim of appeal to the superior court in |
| civil cases. |
| Except as otherwise provided, in all civil cases in the district court, any party may cause |
| the case to be removed for trial on all questions of law and fact to the superior court for the county |
| in which division the suit is pending by claiming an appeal from the judgment of the district court, |
| in writing, filed with the clerk of the division within two (2) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, |
| and legal holidays, after the judgment is entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal, at |
| the time of claiming the appeal, shall pay to the clerk all costs, including an attorney’s fee of fifty |
| dollars ($50.00), for the party or parties adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the clerk |
| to the attorney for the adverse party. The attorney’s fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be divided |
| equally among the attorneys for the parties adversely interested when more than one adverse party |
| is involved; and provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed, exclusive of the attorney’s fee, at a |
| sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), in addition to a seventy-five dollar ($75.00) filing |
| fee, inclusive of a civil case processing fee and a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with |
| § 8-15-11. |
| 9-12-10.1. Claim of appeal to superior court in landlord tenant actions. |
| In any civil action pursuant to chapter 18 of title 34, in the district court or other appropriate |
| court, any party may cause the case to be removed for trial on all questions of law and fact to the |
| superior court for the county in which division the suit is pending, by claiming an appeal from the |
| judgment of the district or other appropriate court, in writing, filed with the clerk of the division |
| within five (5) days, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, after the judgment is |
| entered; provided, that the party claiming the appeal at the time of claiming the appeal, shall pay to |
| the clerk all costs, including an attorney’s fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the party or parties |
| adversely interested in the judgment, to be paid by the clerk to the attorney for the adverse party; |
| provided, further, that costs shall not be taxed, exclusive of the attorney’s fee, at a sum less than |
| twenty-five dollars ($25.00), in addition to a seventy-five dollar ($75.00) filing fee, inclusive of a |
| civil case processing fee and a technology surcharge assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. |
| ======== |
| LC005100 |
| ======== |