Arthur J. Toegemann v. City of Providence.

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s summary‑judgment ruling for the City of Providence, holding that the city’s placement of traffic‑control devices is a discretionary governmental function shielded by the public‑duty doctrine, that none of the doctrine’s three exceptions apply, and that the appellate court could not review the denial of the plaintiff’s discovery motions without a sufficient record. The decision rests on the de novo standard for summary‑judgment review and on established precedent regarding municipal immunity.