{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-34-20-10","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-20-10","heading":"Unlawful termination of tenancy in general.","body":"When proceedings commenced under this chapter are to regain possession of the premises following the alleged termination of a tenancy, if the defendant alleges in his or her answer and if it appears by a preponderance of the evidence that any of the following situations exist, judgment shall be entered for the defendant:\n(1) That the alleged termination was intended as a penalty for the defendant’s justified attempt to secure or enforce rights under a lease or contract, or under the laws of the state or its governmental subdivisions, or of the United States.\n(2) That the alleged termination was intended as a penalty for the defendant’s justified complaint to a governmental authority with a report of plaintiff’s violation of any health or safety code or ordinance.\n(3) That the alleged termination was intended as a penalty for any other justified lawful act of the defendant.\n(4) That the alleged termination was a tenancy in housing operated by a city, town, municipal housing authority, or other unit of a local government, and was terminated without cause.","path":["Title 34 Property","Chapter 20 Trespass and Actions for Possession"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE34/34-20/34-20-10.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T19:58:46Z","sha256":"13eca94107a4da293a70d7fbe7fa85082e87646fb707f21db3049598d71cd690","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-34-20-5-34-20-9","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-34-20-11"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}