Caps damages at $100,000 in tort actions against Rhode Island, cities, towns, or fire districts, except for willful misconduct or extreme recklessness. It also exempts them from § 9-21-10.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would limit how much money a person can receive when they sue Rhode Island state government, a city, a town, or a fire district for causing them harm. Specifically, it would cap the maximum payout in these lawsuits at $100,000, regardless of how serious the injury or damage might be. There are two exceptions: if a government employee or official acted with deliberate wrongdoing or showed extreme recklessness, the $100,000 limit would not apply, and a larger amount could potentially be awarded.

The bill also removes a requirement that these government bodies pay interest on court judgments under a separate existing law (§ 9-21-10). That law currently requires interest to be added to damage awards over time, which can meaningfully increase the total amount a winning party receives. By exempting governments from this rule, the bill would eliminate that added compensation.

This legislation would directly affect Rhode Island residents who are injured or suffer losses due to the actions of state or local government — for example, someone hurt due to a poorly maintained road, a government vehicle accident, or other negligent acts by public employees. Under current law, there is no such hard cap, meaning courts can award whatever amount is deemed fair based on the circumstances. If this bill passes, most victims would be limited to $100,000 no matter the extent of their losses.

The bill was introduced in the House Judiciary Committee, which has since recommended holding it for further study rather than moving it forward immediately. This means it remains under consideration but has not yet advanced toward a full vote.