R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-12-3: Special complaint where whole amount exceeds court jurisdiction.

In all actions in the district court where the whole amount is more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and the balance stated by the plaintiff does not exceed that sum, he or she may bring his or her action for such balance, and shall so state specially in his or her complaint, and he or she shall, on the filing of the complaint, or afterwards on motion, file his or her account of debt and credit in the action.