Bank of America, N.A., as Trustee of the Harold W. Wood and Gertrude B. Wood Trust, the Marion Law Trust, the John F. Preston Charitable Trust, the E. Russell Richardson Trust, and the William F. Sayles Endowment Fund v. Peter F. Neronha, Attorney General of the State of Rhode Island

Syllabus

The respondents, Peter F. Neronha, in his capacity as the Attorney General of the State of Rhode Island, Care New England Health System, The Memorial Hospital d/b/a The Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island (Memorial Hospital), and Kent County Hospital, appealed from a November 7, 2023 final judgment of the Superior Court. These consolidated appeals stemmed from a civil action in the Superior Court that was commenced by the filing of a verified miscellaneous petition seeking judicial application of the doctrine of cy près, which petition was filed by the petitioner, Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as Trustee of the Harold W. Wood and Gertrude B. Wood Trust, the Marion Law Trust, the John F. Preston Charitable Trust, the E. Russell Richardson Trust, and the William F. Sayles Endowment Fund. On appeal, the respondents principally contended that the trial justice erred in failing to consider the changed circumstances that had occurred with the passage of time in the provision of health care services when he designated Miriam Hospital as the alternative beneficiary of the above-mentioned trusts in the wake of the closure of the original beneficiary, Memorial Hospital. After carefully considering the parties' arguments, the Supreme Court held that the trial justice did not err in selecting Miriam Hospital as the alternative beneficiary of the trusts at issue in the case. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.