Sean Lafreniere v. Michael P. Dutton

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment, holding that the plaintiff’s tort claim is barred by the exclusivity provision of the Workers’ Compensation Act because he received workers’ compensation benefits and the defendant, as sole proprietor of the landscaping business, is his employer. The Court reviewed the summary‑judgment ruling de novo and found no genuine issue of material fact.