James A. Ruggieri Continues on Law School Board
The Roger Williams University School of Law has recently named several new members to its board of directors. James Ruggieri continues to serve the law school in that capacity as he has continuously for multiple years.
The impressive roster of new and existing board members, representing a broad cross-section of the bench and bar, also includes:
Judge William E. Smith, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell of the R.I. Supreme Court, Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Judge Brian Stern of the R.I. Superior Court, Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Nicole Verdi, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Gina M. Raimondo, and Kenneth E. Arnold, former Senior Vice President & General Counsel at Lifespan Corporation.
Dean Michael J. Yelnosky, whose term ends on June 30, said he is confident that the School of Law is in good hands. “I am thrilled for the law school that so many talented and committed individuals have agreed to join our Board of Directors,” Yelnosky said. “They are a remarkable group.”
The Roger Williams University School of Law, founded three decades ago, is the only law school in Rhode Island.
R.I. Superior Court Issues Continuing Safeguards for Hearings and Conferences
The Superior Court continues to safeguard court users and court personnel. Hearings and conferences that are conducted remotely are encouraged and will continue to be supported by court personnel. Public access to court proceedings will continue through YouTube streaming.
In-Person Hearings
Non-emergency matters that cannot be handled remotely shall be conducted in-person on a limited basis. Calendars will continue to be staggered to ensure compliance with the courthouse and courtroom capacity limits and the social distancing. Judicial Officers shall ensure that courtroom capacity levels are adhered to and that social distancing and face mask protocols are respected.
The following calendars will continue to operate through September 7, 2020, in Providence County: Daily Criminal Calendar, Miscellaneous Criminal Calendar, Trial/Pre-Trial Calendar, PreArraignment Conference (PAC) Calendar, Civil Calendar. In Kent County, the following calendars will operate through September 7, 2020: Daily Criminal Calendar, Civil Calendar, and Newport/Washington County Criminal/Civil Calendar.
Criminal and Civil Jury Trials
All criminal and civil jury trials scheduled to begin between March 16, 2020, and July 31, 2020, shall be continued to a date not earlier than September 8, 2020 and will only take place provided social distancing and precautionary measures are implemented.
Bench Trials – Criminal and Civil
All criminal and civil bench trials are continued to a date not earlier than July 1, 2020, unless explicitly authorized by the Presiding Justice.
COVID -19 Related Calendar
All calendar protocols/orders issued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as any modifications or amendments, shall remain in full force and effect unless superseded by a subsequent protocol/order.
Finally, the clerks’ offices shall continue to conduct court business in all emergency and non-emergency matters.
Additional requirements apply. To view the complete court order, click here. If you have questions about this court order or any legal matter, please do not hesitate to contact any of the partners at the firm.
Remote Technology Has Kept Rhode Island Courts Going
As Rhode Island state courts prepared to slowly return to in-person proceedings on June 1, the judiciary will continue to build on two months of hearings and conferences conducted remotely during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
While two county courthouses remain closed in Newport and Wakefield, the court system itself never shut down. The Rhode Island Supreme Court heard oral arguments in seven cases over May 13 and 14 using the WebEx video conferencing technology.
In the Superior Court, judges and magistrates have held hundreds of telephone and video conferences and remote hearings, largely in business calendar proceedings and other civil matters.
Each Family Court judge has a YouTube channel in which audio and/or video have been available to the public in domestic relations cases.
The Workers’ Compensation Court has heard more than 2,500 cases remotely since March 17 and disposed of 1,268 cases during that period.
More information about the developments can be found here.
If you have any questions about any legal matter or the status of a particular case, please do not hesitate to contact any of the partners at Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney, LLP.
Source: Rhode Island Judiciary
James A. Ruggieri: COVID-19 Employment Law Update
The issues and legal concerns that employers face in this new COVID-19 world are numerous and ever-changing in this uncharted environment. Here are a few of the most common issues that we’ve encountered so far.
- Health insurance and COBRA
- OSHA obligations
- Wage and hour considerations
- Employment policies and practices
- Reductions in workforce
- Tailored employment contracts
- Employee handbooks
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act
- R.I. Superior Court Business Recovery Plan
Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney is well-positioned to assist employers with comprehensive workplace representation as the state embarks on a new pathway to reopening the economy.
The attorneys at the firm are also closely monitoring Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s executive orders as well as all other applicable orders issued by the state’s courts.
Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney has remained opened, and responsive to clients’ needs during the pandemic, and will continue to do so.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of my colleagues in helping employers, insurance carriers, or third-party administrators navigate the various employment laws or workers’ compensation issues impacting businesses today.
James A. Ruggieri, a longstanding partner with the firm, has maintained a broad-based litigation practice for more than 30 years.
His employment law practice covers a range of issues relative to wage and hour disputes; employment contracts; OSHA compliance; FLMA; hiring, discipline, and terminations; harassment and retaliation; and discrimination claims.
James A. Ruggieri can be reached at jruggieri@hcc-law.com (401-490-3914).
R.I. Superior Court Offers Latest Protocols for Scheduling Hearings and Conferences
The R.I. Superior Court has issued additional protocols to enable counsel to request a remote hearing or conference during the COVID-19 crisis.
Pending Motions There are motions that were previously scheduled for hearings on or after March 16, 2020, or that have been filed since March 16, 2020, and have not been assigned hearing dates. If such a motion remains unresolved, any party may request that it be decided on the pleadings or that a hearing on such a motion be held.
Hearings An attorney wishing to schedule a hearing will submit by electronic mail a specialized form to the judge’s clerk. If a hearing is requested, the court will determine whether the hearing will be held remotely during this crisis period or whether it will be given a future hearing date. If the hearing is to take place during the crisis period, the clerk will coordinate the date and time for the hearing among all concerned.
Seven Associate Justices in the Superior Court will be authorized to conduct remote hearings, simultaneously, on any given day. All hearings will be held remotely by WebEx video conferencing, will be recorded by a court reporter, and the audio of the hearing will be made available to the public through YouTube streaming.
Conferences and Requests to Decide Motions on the Papers Attorneys who wish to schedule a conference or have a motion decided on the papers may do so by emailing the judge’s clerk using the same specialized form referenced above. There will be no stenographic record of these conferences.
Decisions on the Pleadings The clerk will enter the court’s disposition of the motion in the docket. Counsel shall submit an order reflecting the disposition of the motion for signature by the judicial officer and the clerk.
Additional requirements apply. A copy of this latest court order is available here. If you have questions about this latest court order or any legal matter, please do not hesitate to contact any of the partners at the firm.
