§ 9-8-5. Annual action by court.
(a) Thereafter, during the first week in February in each year, or as soon as thereafter
is practicable, all actions at law, and other proceedings designated by the respective
courts, deemed by the court to be inactive and then pending in the supreme court,
the superior court, the family court, the district court, or the traffic tribunal,
for five (5) years or more, may be dismissed for lack of prosecution, without costs.
Entries of such dismissals shall be made as of course by the clerk, upon order of
the chief justice, presiding justice, chief judges, or chief magistrate, of the respective
courts
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§ 9-8-5. Annual action by court.
(a) Thereafter, during the first week in February in each year, or as soon as thereafter
is practicable, all actions at law, and other proceedings designated by the respective
courts, deemed by the court to be inactive and then pending in the supreme court,
the superior court, the family court, the district court, or the traffic tribunal,
for five (5) years or more, may be dismissed for lack of prosecution, without costs.
Entries of such dismissals shall be made as of course by the clerk, upon order of
the chief justice, presiding justice, chief judges, or chief magistrate, of the respective
courts, after notice has been duly given of the date upon which the cases will stand
dismissed. The notice shall be given once a week for two (2) successive weeks at least
three (3) weeks before the date in a newspaper having general circulation in the county
or district where the action is pending.
(b) Upon the date any party desiring to be heard in opposition to dismissal of a case
in which he or she appears may appear before the respective court (in the superior
court before the presiding justice) and be heard thereon, and the court may in its
discretion dismiss or stay dismissal of the case for such period as it may fix. Extensions
of the period may also be granted. Any adversary party shall not be thereby prevented
from making a special motion for dismissal within the period so fixed or extended.