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Tortolani v. Staradumsky

Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Mar 1, 1990
570 A.2d 671 (R.I. 1990)

Summary

affirming the Superior Court's dismissal of tenant's appeal pursuant to § 34–18–53 based on the trial justice's finding of fact that the tenant had not paid the sum required on the date his rent would ordinarily have been payable

Summary of this case from Watson v. Quick

Opinion

89-310-A.

March 1, 1990.

Appeal from the Superior Court, Providence County, Needham J.

Peter Bouchard, Woonsocket, for plaintiff.

John J. Staradumsky, pro se.

Before FAY, C.J., and WEISBERGER and SHEA, JJ.


OPINION


This case came before a hearing panel of this court for oral argument on February 20, 1990, pursuant to an order directing the parties to appear and show cause why the issues raised by this appeal should not be summarily decided. The facts of the case insofar as pertinent to this appeal are as follows.

The plaintiff landlord brought a trespass and ejectment action against defendant in the District Court. A judge of that court rendered a judgment in favor of plaintiff. The defendant then was allowed to appeal in forma pauperis to the Superior Court by the District Court. During the pendency of this appeal plaintiff moved to dismiss the appeal on the ground that defendant did not pay a sum for use and occupancy equivalent to rent as required by G.L. 1956 (1984 Reenactment) § 34-18-52, as amended by P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.

After hearing on June 14, 1989, a justice of the Superior Court found as a fact that defendant had not paid the sum required by the statute on the date when his rent would ordinarily have been due and payable. He therefore dismissed the appeal pursuant to § 34-18-53, as amended by P.L. 1986, ch. 200 § 2 and entered judgment and an order for the issuance of execution. The execution was thereafter duly served.

After hearing argument by counsel for the plaintiff and hearing the defendant's argument on his own behalf, we are of the opinion that the trial justice was correct in dismissing the defendant's appeal as the statute required him to do.

Consequently the appeal of the defendant is denied and dismissed. The judgment entered in the Superior Court is hereby affirmed. The papers in the case may be remanded to the Superior Court.

KELLEHER and MURRAY, JJ., did not participate.


Summaries of

Tortolani v. Staradumsky

Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Mar 1, 1990
570 A.2d 671 (R.I. 1990)

affirming the Superior Court's dismissal of tenant's appeal pursuant to § 34–18–53 based on the trial justice's finding of fact that the tenant had not paid the sum required on the date his rent would ordinarily have been payable

Summary of this case from Watson v. Quick
Case details for

Tortolani v. Staradumsky

Case Details

Full title:Stephen TORTOLANI v. John J. STARADUMSKY

Court:Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Date published: Mar 1, 1990

Citations

570 A.2d 671 (R.I. 1990)

Citing Cases

Watson v. Quick

See Russo v. Fleetwood, 713 A.2d 775, 776 (R.I.1998) (holding that § 34–18–53 provides for the mandatory…

Russo v. Fleetwood

Fleetwood suggests that the prior opinions of this Court upholding the dismissal of an appeal for nonpayment…