R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-18-4: Scope of damages appraised.

The jury shall appraise the damages which the plaintiff shall have sustained by the matters set forth in his or her complaint, from the time of his or her ownership of the premises injured up to the date of the action, if the defendant has been so long for that time the owner of the milldam or pond; if not, then from the time the ownership of the defendant commenced up to the date of the plaintiff’s action, or until the defendant ceased to be owner.