Rhode Island § 27-16-13 § 27-16-13. Attorney fees.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 27-16-13 — § 27-16-13. Attorney fees.

Rhode Island § 27-16-13

Title 27Insurance

Ch. 27-16Unauthorized Insurance Business

This text of Rhode Island § 27-16-13 (§ 27-16-13. Attorney fees.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-16-13 (2026).

Text

§ 27-16-13. Attorney fees.
In any action against an unauthorized foreign or alien insurer upon a contract of
            insurance issued or delivered in this state to a resident of this state or to a corporation
            authorized to do business in this state, if the insurer has failed for thirty (30)
            days after demand prior to the commencement of the action to make payment in accordance
            with the terms of the contract, and it appears to the court that the refusal was vexatious
            and without reasonable cause, the court may allow to the plaintiff a reasonable attorney
            fee and include the fee in any judgment that may be rendered in the action. The fee
            shall not

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§ 27-16-13. Attorney fees.

In any action against an unauthorized foreign or alien insurer upon a contract of insurance issued or delivered in this state to a resident of this state or to a corporation authorized to do business in this state, if the insurer has failed for thirty (30) days after demand prior to the commencement of the action to make payment in accordance with the terms of the contract, and it appears to the court that the refusal was vexatious and without reasonable cause, the court may allow to the plaintiff a reasonable attorney fee and include the fee in any judgment that may be rendered in the action. The fee shall not exceed twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the amount which the court or jury finds the plaintiff is entitled to recover against the insurer, but in no event shall the fee be less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Failure of an insurer to defend the action shall be deemed prima facie evidence that its failure to make payment was vexatious and without reasonable cause.