People in Rhode Island may sue over federal rights violations

A person acting under color of federal law who violates or interferes with someone’s federal constitutional rights may be sued for a court remedy. It covers a person acting under color of federal law who deprives someone in Rhode Island of rights secured by the U.S. Constitution, or interferes or tries to interfere with those rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion. The law does not impose duties on federal officials beyond those already imposed by the U.S. Constitution. State immunity defenses do not apply, and federal immunity defenses do not apply as far as the U.S. Constitution permits. The law takes effect upon passage.

A plaintiff who wins a case under this law must receive reasonable legal fees and costs from the court. This applies to plaintiffs who prevail in a case brought under this law. In a case seeking an order to stop an action, a plaintiff counts as having won if the lawsuit was a substantial factor or significant catalyst in obtaining the result sought.

A case under this law must be filed within three years of the incident that led to it. This deadline applies to cases brought under this law. If a person is unable to sue because of age, mental incompetence, or another disability, and no one files for them within the first three years, they have three years from when the disability ends to file. The three-year period begins on the date of the incident, or when the disability ends for a person covered by the exception.