R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-6-7 (2026)

Effect of release of one tortfeasor on liability of others

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) A release by the injured person of one joint tortfeasor, whether before or after judgment, does not discharge the other tortfeasors unless the release so provides; but reduces the claim against the other tortfeasors in the amount of the consideration paid for the release.

(2) A release by the injured person of one joint tortfeasor relieves that tortfeasor from liability to make contribution to another joint tortfeasor.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1967–2023 · leading case: Calise v. Hidden Valley Condo. Ass'n, 773 A.2d 834 (R.I. 2001).
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Calise v. Hidden Valley Condo. Ass'n, 773 A.2d 834 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 83× “After the plaintiffs, Jeanette and Vincent Calise (the Calises) entered into a settlement with two of the alleged joint-tortfeasor defendants in this case, G.L.1956 § 10-6-7 [9] of Rhode Island's Uniform contribution Among Tortfeasors Act (UCATA) — consistent with the joint…”
Maureen O'Connell v. William Walmsley, 156 A.3d 422 (R.I. 2017). · cites it 11× “The plaintiffs further averred that G.L. 1956 § 10-6-7, which governs the “[ejffect of release of one tortfeasor on [the] liability of others[,]” did not mandate a reduction in damages upon a joint tort-feasor’s release.”
McInnis v. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc., 625 F. Supp. 943 (D.R.I. 1986). · cites it 10× “Laws § 10-6-8 (1985) (discharging releasee from liability for contribution only in limited circumstances).”
Augustine v. Langlais, 402 A.2d 1187 (R.I. 1979). · cites it 10× “General Laws 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §10-6-7 provides that: “A release by the injured person of one (1) joint tortfeasor, whether before or after judgment, does not discharge the other tortfeasors unless the release so provides; but reduces the claim against the other…”
Merrill v. Trenn, 706 A.2d 1305 (R.I. 1998). · cites it 10× “The Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act, G.L.1956 § 10-6-7, provides, "A release by the injured person of one joint tortfeasor, whether before or after judgment, does not discharge the other tortfeasors unless the release so provides; but reduces the claim against the…”
Bennett v. La Pere, 112 F.R.D. 136 (D.R.I. 1986). · cites it 4× “See R.I.Gen.Laws §§ 10-6-7, 10-6-8. This settlement was reduced to writing.”
Moore v. Missouri Pac. R.R., 773 S.W.2d 78 (Ark. 1989). · cites it 4× “McInnis, supra (applying R.I.Gen.Laws § 10-6-7 (1985)); Hurt v. Leatherby Ins.”
Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins. v. Barry, 892 A.2d 915 (R.I. 2006). · cites it 2× “We declared in Trenn that the prejudgment-interest statute and the Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act, G.L. 1956 § 10-6-7, call for a method of interest computation “that will not impose disincentives on willing litigants to reach as early and as accurate a settlement as…”
Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Flynn, 687 A.2d 440 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 2× “1988), the case on which Prudential chiefly relied, this Court interpreted the Joint Tortfeasor Release Statute, G.L. 1956 § 10-6-7, and an earlier version of § 9-21-10 and held that the amount of a settlement with, a joint tortfeasor should be deducted from a verdict against a…”
Margadonna v. Otis Elevator Co., 542 A.2d 232 (R.I. 1988). · cites it 2× “1956 (1985 Reenactment) § 10-6-7. In Augustine the court held that “[t]he cases that have considered statutes identical to § 10-6-7 universally hold that amounts paid by settling defendants must be credited to the verdict amount returned against nonsettling joint tortfeasors.”
Com. Assocs. v. Tilcon Gammino, Inc., 801 F. Supp. 939 (D.R.I. 1992). · cites it 2× “, R.I.Gen.Laws § 10-6-7 (1985 Reenactment)), a settlement payment by one joint tortfeasor reduces the “claim” against the other tortfeasors by the amount paid or by the amount or proportion provided in the release, whichever is greater.”
North Atl. Fishing, Inc. v. Geremia, 153 B.R. 607 (D.R.I. 1993). · cites it 2× “” R.I.Gen.Laws § 10-6-7; see also Lawrence v.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-6-7(1) — 1 case
Patricia Noonan, individually & in her capacity as of & on behalf of the beneficiaries of the Est. of William J. Noonan v. Sundersansan Sambandam, M.D. (R.I. 2023).
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