Althea Johnson v. Horace Johnson

Syllabus

This case came before the Supreme Court pursuant to a March 13, 2020 order of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit certifying a question to the Supreme Court in accordance with Article I, Rule 6(a) of the Supreme Court Rules of Appellate Procedure . The certified question read as follows: \What is the definition of 'civil action' in R.I.G.L. § 27-7-2.2 ?\ The Supreme Court considered the parties' arguments and ultimately concluded that the term \civil action\ in G.L. 1956 § 27-7-2.2 refers to a judicial proceeding which is commenced by the filing of a complaint and all other required documents together with the fees prescribed by law. The Court then returned the case to the First Circuit.