R.I. Super. R. Civ. P. 17 (2026)

17. Parties Plaintiff and Defendant — Capacity. — (a) Real Party in Interest. Every action shall be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest. An executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, trustee of an express trust, a party with whom or in whose name a contract has been made for the benefit of another, or a party authorized by statute may sue in that person's own name without joining the party for whose benefit the action is brought; and when a statute so provides, an action for the use and benefit of another shall be brought in the name of the state. An insurer who has paid all or part of a loss may sue in the name of the assured to whose right it is subrogated. No action shall be dismissed on the ground that it is not prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest until a reasonable time has been allowed after objection for ratification of commencement of the action by, or joinder or substitution of, the real party in interest; and such ratification, joinder, or substitution shall have the same effect as if the action had been commenced in the name of the real party in interest. (b) Capacity to Sue or Be Sued. The capacity of an individual, including one acting in a representative capacity, and of a partnership or other unincorporated association to sue or be sued shall be determined by the law of this state. The capacity of a corporation to sue or be sued shall be determined by the law under which it was organized, unless some statute of this state provides to the contrary. (c) Infants or Incompetent Persons. Whenever an infant or incompetent person has a representative, such as a general guardian, conservator, or other like fiduciary, the representative may sue or defend on behalf of the infant or incompetent person. If an infant or incompetent person does not have a duly appointed representative, the infant or incompetent person may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for an infant or incompetent person not otherwise represented in an action or shall make such other order as the court deems proper for the protection of the infant or incompetent person.

Page 26 of 101 February 2024

18. Joinder of Claims and Remedies. — (a) Joinder of Claims. A party asserting a claim to relief as an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third party claim, may join, either as independent or as alternate claims, as many claims, legal or equitable, as that party has against an opposing party. (b) Joinder of Remedies; Fraudulent Conveyances. Whenever a claim is one heretofore cognizable only after another claim has been prosecuted to a conclusion, the two (2) claims may be joined in a single action; but the court shall grant relief in that action only in accordance with the relative substantive rights of the parties. In particular, a plaintiff may state a claim for money and a claim to have set aside a conveyance fraudulent as to the plaintiff without first having obtained a judgment establishing the claim for money. This rule shall not be applied in actions to recover for personal injury or property damage so as to permit the joinder of a liability or indemnity insurance carrier, unless such carrier is by law or contract liable to the person injured or damaged and is directly subject to suit to enforce such liability.