El Bebe Day Care Center, Inc. v. Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, through its chair Patricia DiCenso, in her official capacity only

Syllabus

The plaintiffs, El Bebe Daycare Center, Inc., Luis Briceno, and Yulissa Junco (collectively, plaintiffs) appealed from a Superior Court judgment in favor of the defendant, the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, following the entry of an order granting the defendant's motion to dismiss. The plaintiffs argued that the trial justice erred in applying the doctrine of res judicata to their claims. The Supreme Court held that, because the plaintiffs' claims could have been raised in the prior administrative proceeding, and no exception applied, res judicata barred their suit. Accordingly, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.