R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-19-1.2: Lien of state or municipality.

Any employer paying compensation under the provisions of § 45-19-1 shall, if the employee recovers damages from a third person on account of the injuries or sickness for which compensation is payable, have a lien upon that part going to the employee, of any recovery or sum had or collected or to be collected by the employee, or by the employee’s heirs or personal representatives in the case of the employee’s death, whether by judgment or by settlement or compromise, up to the amount of compensation paid; provided, that the lien set forth in this section is not applied or considered valid against anyone coming under the workers’ compensation act in this state; and, provided, further, that nothing enacted in this section is so construed as to give the lien created in this section precedence over the lien of an attorney.