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Rhode Island Contracts Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Criminal Law and Real Estate Law for Rhode Island on
Q: As to the recording voice and video does The State of Rhode Island require that all party's being recorded be informed?

One month after signing a lease I recorded a video with sound of my landlady in a rooming house in Warwick Rhode Island. She told me that she was writing new rules as an addendum to the lease and then I was excluded from parts of the house that were in the lease.

during that confrontation... View More

Nicholas Arthur Matlach
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answered on Apr 29, 2024

It sounds like you're in a very challenging situation, and I understand wanting to explore all options. Whether you can use the recording in a court case depends on a few factors:

- Rhode Island's Consent Laws: Rhode Island is a "one-party consent" state. This means you...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Construction Law for Rhode Island on
Q: How can I request to be reimbursed from a contractor on a plumbing job done incorrectly?

Contractor hired last year to redo bathroom. Installed shower valve wrong which lead to plumbing leaks. Had to hire a plumber to rip open walls and fix.

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Dec 21, 2022

A homeowner may file a complaint against a contractor who performed work on their home. A complaint can also be filed against those professionals the CRLB licenses. Complaints cannot be filed on work conducted on commercial properties.

The list of contractors includes, but is not limited...
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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Products Liability, Tax Law and Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Can I own an unregistered vehicle if I don’t use the vehicle

I’m trying to buy a vehicle and I won’t be able to register it for 2 months.

Albin Moser
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answered on Dec 21, 2023

Yes, you can own a vehicle that is not registered yet. Until you register it you can't drive it.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts for Rhode Island on
Q: Contract law question. Counterparts were signed but were not identical. Multiple differences. Is the contract valid?

No pages were initialed. Its actually an agreement and not a contract, though still not identical. One person used an initially proposed agreement and not the one that was finally settled on.

Andrew Bilodeau
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answered on Apr 26, 2022

Unfortunately, the answer you likely didn't want to hear is, it depends. Was each page of the entire contract initialed? Are the different provisions substantive provisions?

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts for Rhode Island on
Q: Is there a specified number of days from issuing an invoice before you sue?
Albin Moser
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answered on Dec 3, 2021

If the contract states a time of payment, then you can sue at any time after the due date. If there is no due date, then you can sue after a reasonable amount of time has passed. After a reasonable amount of time has passed and no payment, a common practice is to send a second notice. Usually you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Environmental for Rhode Island on
Q: How do I get permission to walk on Open Space to preserve a grave?
Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Sep 16, 2019

Speak to the Cemetery owner.

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Landlord - Tenant, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence for Rhode Island on
Q: My bf isn’t on my lease but just wants me to write in his name? Will they contact the landlord?

My bf is being charged with B&E after a dumb argument we had in my apartment. He isn’t technically on my lease, but he does pretty much live with me. He is asking me to write in his name on the lease I do have, without telling the landlord. Is this illegal? If I do do this( will they contact... View More

Gary Kollin
Gary Kollin
answered on Sep 4, 2019

You wrote further detail on AVVO. You could subject yourself to possible prosecution.

The phone calls from the jail may be recorded

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence and Federal Crimes for Rhode Island on
Q: Can my boyfriend be charged with B&E if he is on my lease?

I had a bad argument with my boyfriend while drunk one night, which resulted in me telling him to leave and calling the police. He has been charged with B&E, however he is on my rental lease. He can not afford a lawyer at this time, so he has decided to go with a public defender. He had court... View More

Thomas Briody
Thomas Briody
answered on Sep 3, 2019

Cooperate with the attorney. Public defenders do a terrific job, and should follow through with their own investigation. The Rhode Island public defender has its own investigators. You can also communicate to the Attorney General that you do not wish to go forward with any complaint against your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Real Estate Law for Rhode Island on
Q: Can a buyer back out once an offer is given and accepted on deadline date w no recourse?

The Buyer offered us full price and after inspection requested four things to be addressed (taken care of) we in return offered them to fix two of the four requests plus 2,000.00 off original price. They accepted the offer on the deadline date of July 2. Then on July 6th, we were told they were... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Jul 9, 2019

The answer to your question should be set forth in the written documents; where is your real estate agent?

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Employment Law and Civil Rights for Rhode Island on
Q: 20 year Labor union member wrongfully terminated, rights were disregarded in Collective Bargaining agreement,
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Apr 1, 2019

Hire a good employment lawyer with expertise in labor union issues.

3 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Criminal Law, Products Liability and Small Claims for Rhode Island on
Q: hello i have lost an $2200 camera that i rented whats going to happen to me ?
Thomas Briody
Thomas Briody
answered on Feb 13, 2019

If you truly lost the item, then you have most likely not committed a crime. However, you are responsible for the loss, and you will have to reimburse the person who loaned you the camera. That means you are most likely going to have to pay the value of the camera back.

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for Rhode Island on
Q: Where can I find statutes or cases that support that OK has subject matter jurisdiction over my case?

I am on active military orders in RI, owned a home in NC that was rented by tenants, who abandoned the property, breached contract and now live in OK. NC statute chptr 7A, Art 19, section 213 states I cannot file in the state because none of the defendants live there any longer. I filed in OK in... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Sep 24, 2018

Your best avenue would be to engage an attorney practicing where the case is properly filed. There are myriad resources online for legal information, statutes, and case law along with many law schools that could provide you with the information you seek. However, a practicing attorney should be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Contracts and Child Support for Rhode Island on
Q: We are currently unable to pay the full amount of rent. However, the house is poorly maintained. What can be done?

We only have one source of income (being approximately $600 a month) currently and are behind by two months rent. However, we have lived at this house for close to 8 years and have had many problems. From the kitchen, the paint on the ceiling is peeling off, the oven does not work, and the faucet... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jun 11, 2018

It may be time to look for: 1) a new, different, and better maintained residence/apartment and/ or 2) a second source of income and/or 3) an attorney to help you defend against a likely eviction case should your landlord decide to take you to court. Contact your local CAP agency for help with #1... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts for Rhode Island on
Q: Is the decriminalization of minor marijuana possession in Rhode Island retroactive if the conviction happened before the

law was in effect?

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on May 27, 2018

no, see: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE21/21-28/21-28-4.01.HTM

There is no retroactive date enabled/listed for this law. Meet with a practicing attorney to explore other ways to approach this including possible expungement.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Contracts and Employment Law for Rhode Island on
Q: How can a member of a Laborers union fight against being wrongfully terminated due to nepotism by the union steward??

Its a long story but I've been with this company many years, (almost 20 years) I am beyond devastated,

Bernard P. Healy
Bernard P. Healy
answered on Mar 3, 2018

I do not have sufficient information to answer this question fully or accurately. Let me give you my initial impressions. I assume you are a member of a Laborers Union which has assigned you for many years to a specific business. You have apparently performed your job well and you are being forced... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for Rhode Island on
Q: I have moved from one my apartment bldg into a smaller one that's was cheaper, same landlord. Since we asked for the 200

Dollar difference in security he started acting weird he has not given us a lease for the new place were in and has not come to collect rent or returned any of our calls at this point I don't trust thus situation and di.t want to live here. What ate my options

Kas DeCarvalho
Kas DeCarvalho
answered on Aug 3, 2017

Well...if you don't have a written agreement, then what you technically have is a month-to-month lease...and what the rent is supposed to be is admittedly a bit of a mystery, but at worst, it's the rent from your old/other apartment. Typically that would be decided by the history of what... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for Rhode Island on
Q: My lease ended in Rhode Island however the landlord is selling the house and now I'm month to month until they decide.

Can I use the last month's rent from the lease to pay for the first month's rent of the month to month?

Kas DeCarvalho
Kas DeCarvalho
answered on Aug 3, 2017

The shortest, best answer is..."it depends on the terms of the Lease Agreement." But based on your question, I suggest that the answer is, "probably not." Let me clarify a few points, though: First, as you know, many State statutes permit landlords to charge both a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts for Rhode Island on
Q: Sold a pair of shoes about a month ago, no bill of sales was made up now buyer contacting me what should i do?

Told him all sales were final a while back, no bills of sales was made up just talked by text message, i also paid to get the photos looked at so somebody could legitimize them... is there anything i should be worryed about or do in this case? I know the shoes are real but feel like he trying to... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jan 30, 2017

Not sure what they are contacting you about. I assume this is an ebay or similar tansaction. You would only be open for misrepresentation if he can prove the shoes aren't what they say they are and you willfully mislead him. If you talked by text now is a good time to download that. Also get a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Communications Law, Contracts and Election Law for Rhode Island on
Q: Is network news liable to a viewer/investor/voter if they entered into any contracts based on inaccurate media coverage?

Basically if CNN reported false information or shielded information from the public throughout the course of the election while voters selected candidates and investors selected stocks; would CNN be liable? Could they still be liable for misleading the public in the first place or even election... View More

Glenn B. Manishin
Glenn B. Manishin
answered on Dec 20, 2016

No. Fraud requires an intention to defraud, knowingly false statements and a duty of care to the other party. Largely the same for securities law purposes. News media are supposed to be accurate but do not have a legal obligation to investors, voters or even viewers.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Elder Law and Estate Planning for Rhode Island on
Q: What do I have to do to get a legal document stating my son is my caregiver we do not want yo get paid for it

I am legally blind I have been over ,20 years my son transports me everywhere reads my mail writes my bills he is 22 had always lived with me helping me he works

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Oct 6, 2016

Meet with an attorney to create documents necessary for your son to act on your behalf.

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