Kevin Bennett v. Angela Steliga

Summary

The Supreme Court of Rhode Island affirmed the Superior Court’s summary‑judgment rulings that the purchase‑and‑sale agreement was valid, binding, and enforceable, and that the seller, Angela Steliga, anticipatorily repudiated the contract by refusing to close. The Court vacated the trial court’s orders of specific performance and reasonable attorneys’ fees, finding the equitable remedy premature and the fee award unsupported by the record. The case was remanded for an evidentiary hearing on specific performance. The decision rests on established contract and equity principles.