Christopher Warfel v. Town of New Shoreham

Citations

• 178 A.3d 988

Syllabus

The plaintiffs—certain New Shoreham residents, taxpayers, and Block Island Power Company ratepayers—appeal a Washington County Superior Court hearing justice's decision to grant the motion to dismiss of the defendant, the Town of New Shoreham. The plaintiffs sought to challenge the defendant's purchase of two-thirds of the shares of the Block Island Power Company. The defendant moved to dismiss the case, arguing that: (1) the Superior Court did not have subject-matter jurisdiction (2) the controversy was moot (3) the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue (4) the plaintiffs' complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted (5) the plaintiffs' complaint violated Rule 8 of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure and (6) the plaintiffs violated Rule 19 of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure by failing to join indispensable parties. The hearing justice granted the motion, and the plaintiffs appealed. The Supreme Court held that the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the present suit. The Court did not address the remaining arguments. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.