Gabriele v. Rocchio

Decision Date10 October 1995
Docket NumberNo. 94-528-A,94-528-A
Citation665 A.2d 566
PartiesRichard GABRIELE et al. v. Donna ROCCHIO et al. ppeal.
CourtRhode Island Supreme Court
OPINION

PER CURIAM.

This case came before the court for oral argument on September 12, 1995, pursuant to an order that had directed both parties to appear in order to show cause why the issues raised in this appeal should not be summarily decided. After hearing the oral argument and examining the memoranda filed by the parties, we are of the opinion that cause has not been shown and that the issues should be summarily decided. Certain intervenors have appealed from a judgment of the Superior Court that denied a motion to vacate an earlier judgment of the Superior Court reversing a decision of the zoning board of review for the town of Glocester. The Superior Court judgment authorized the plaintiffs before the Superior Court to construct an electronic transmission tower.

Thereafter, parties who had appeared before the zoning board in opposition to the application for special exception sought to intervene before the Superior Court and to vacate the earlier judgment of that court on the ground that they had not been notified of the appeal taken to the Superior Court in accordance with G.L.1956 (1991 Reenactment) § 45-24-69. A justice of the Superior Court granted the motion to intervene but denied the motion to vacate the prior judgment. From this denial the intervenors have appealed to this court.

This court has held in numerous cases that review of a judgment of the Superior Court on an appeal from a decision of a zoning board may be had only by petition for the discretionary writ of certiorari. See, e.g., Harmel Corp. v. Members of the Zoning Board of Review of Tiverton, 603 A.2d 303 (R.I.1992); OK Properties v. Zoning Board of Review of Warwick, 601 A.2d 953 (R.I.1992); Caswell v. George Sherman Sand & Gravel Co., 424 A.2d 646 (R.I.1981); Hassell v. Zoning Board of Review of East Providence, 108 R.I. 349, 275 A.2d 646 (1971). Neither the current statute, § 45-24-69, nor its predecessor, § 45-24-20, provides for any appeal to the Supreme Court from a Superior Court judgment on an appeal from a decision of a zoning board of review. Thus, review may be obtained only by the common law writ of certiorari, which may be issued pursuant to the plenary power granted to the Supreme Court by the Constitution of the State of Rhode...

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3 cases
  • Northern Trust Co. v. Zoning Board of Review of the Town of Westerly
    • United States
    • Rhode Island Supreme Court
    • June 6, 2006
    ...to zoning appeals. See AV Realty, LLC v. Smithfield Zoning Board of Review, 762 A.2d 803, 803 (R.I.2000) (mem.); Gabriele v. Rocchio, 665 A.2d 566, 566 (R.I.1995). We have made it abundantly clear that "[t]he proper procedure to review a judgment of the Superior Court on appeal from a decis......
  • Bellini Constr. Co. v. Zoning Bd. of Review of the Town of Smithfield
    • United States
    • Rhode Island Supreme Court
    • March 17, 2011
    ...appeal to the Supreme Court from a Superior Court judgment on an appeal from a decision of a zoning board of review." Gabriele v. Rocchio, 665 A.2d 566, 566 (R.I. 1995). Because the plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal, rather than a petition for writ of certiorari, this matter is not pro......
  • Lupo v. Cmty. Works Rhode Island Inc., 2012–150–Appeal.
    • United States
    • Rhode Island Supreme Court
    • December 14, 2012
    ...519 (R.I.2006) (mem.) (citing AV Realty, LLC v. Smithfield Zoning Board of Review, 762 A.2d 803, 803 (R.I.2000) (mem.); Gabriele v. Rocchio, 665 A.2d 566, 566 (R.I.1995)). The “proper procedure to review a judgment of the Superior Court on appeal from a decision of a zoning board is by writ......

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