Frederick Bissinger v. Morash Family Limited Partnership
Summary
The Rhode Island Supreme Court, evenly divided, affirmed the judgment of Newport County Superior Court in the civil case Frederick Bissinger et al. v. Morash Family Limited Partnership et al. The Court issued a one-line order without issuing a substantive opinion on the merits. Chief Justice Suttell did not participate; Justice Goldberg participated but retired before publication.
What changed
The Rhode Island Supreme Court issued a procedural order affirming the lower court judgment in Bissinger v. Morash Family Limited Partnership. Because the five participating justices were evenly divided (Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long), the Court could not produce a majority opinion and simply affirmed the Superior Court's judgment as entered. No substantive legal reasoning, precedent, or new obligations were established.
This affirmance has no broader precedential value and creates no new compliance obligations. The case returns to the status quo ante with the Newport County Superior Court judgment standing as final. Legal practitioners should note that evenly-divided affirmances in Rhode Island produce no binding guidance for future cases.
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April 1, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note
Frederick Bissinger v. Morash Family Limited Partnership
Supreme Court of Rhode Island
- Citations: None known
Docket Number: 2024-0238-Appeal.
Combined Opinion
Supreme Court
No. 2024-238-Appeal.
(NC 23-121)
Frederick Bissinger et al. :
v. :
Morash Family Limited Partnership et :
al.
ORDER
The Court being evenly divided, the judgment of the Superior Court is
affirmed.
Entered as an Order of this Court this _____ day of April, 2026.
By Order,
Clerk
Chief Justice Suttell did not participate.
Justice Goldberg participated in the decision but retired before its publication.
-1-
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
Licht Judicial Complex
250 Benefit Street
Providence, RI 02903+
ORDER COVER SHEET
Frederick Bissinger et al. v. Morash Family Limited
Title of Case
Partnership et al.
No. 2024-238-Appeal.
Case Number
(NC 23-121)
Date Order Filed April 1, 2026
Justices Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long, JJ.
Source of Appeal Newport County Superior Court
Judicial Officer from Lower Court Associate Justice Richard D. Raspallo
For Plaintiffs:
Kelley Morris Salvatore, Esq.
Attorney(s) on Appeal
For Defendants:
Jeremiah C. Lynch, III, Esq.
SU-CMS-02B (revised November 2022)
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