Walter L. Bronhard v. Thayer Street District Management Authority

Syllabus

The plaintiff, Walter L. Bronhard d/b/a Walter L. Bronhard Real Estate, appealed from a Superior Court judgment entered in favor of the defendant, Thayer Street District Management Authority, following the grant of the defendant's motion for summary judgment. On appeal, the plaintiff argued that the hearing justice ignored the plain language of G.L. 1956 § 45-59-22(c), erred in determining that the statute is directory rather than mandatory, and, ultimately, incorrectly granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment as to all claims. The Supreme Court applied the factors set forth in West v. McDonald, 18 A.3d 526 (R.I. 2011), to the facts of the case and agreed with the hearing justice's determination that § 45 59 22(c) is directory. Accordingly, the Supreme Court held that the hearing justice did not err and affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.