§ 18-16-9. Claims and litigation. (a) In a statutory short form power of attorney, the language conferring general authority with respect to claims and litigation shall be construed to mean that the principal authorizes the agent:

(1) To assert and prosecute before any court, administrative board, department, commissioner or other tribunal any cause of action, claim, counterclaim, offset, or defense, which the principal has, or claims to have, against any individual, partnership, association, corporation, government, or other person or instrumentality, including, but not limited to, power to sue for the recovery of land or of any other thing of value, for the recovery of damages sustained by the principal in any manner, for the elimination or modification of tax liability, for injunction, for specific performance, or for any other relief;

(2) To bring an action of interpleader or other action to determine adverse claims; to intervene or interplead in any action or proceeding, and to act in any litigation as amicus curiae;

(3) In connection with any action or proceeding or controversy, at law or otherwise, to apply for and, if possible, procure a libel, an attachment, a garnishment, an order of arrest or other preliminary, provisional or intermediate relief and to resort to and utilize in all ways permitted by law any available procedure for the effectuation or satisfaction of the judgment, order or decree obtained;

(4) In connection with any action or proceeding, at law or otherwise, to perform any act which the principal might perform, including, but not limited to, acceptance of tender, offer of judgment, admission of any facts, submission of any controversy on an agreed statement of facts, consent to examination before trial, and generally to bind the principal in the conduct of any litigation or controversy as seems desirable to the agent;

(5) To submit to arbitration, settle, and propose or accept a compromise with respect to, any claim existing in favor of or against the principal, or any litigation to which the principal is or may become or be designated a party;

(6) To waive the issuance, and service of a summons, citation or other process upon the principal; to accept service of process; to appear for the principal; to designate persons upon whom process directed to the principal may be served; to execute and file or deliver stipulations on the principal's behalf; to verify pleadings; to appeal to appellate tribunals, to procure and give surety and indemnity bonds at the times and to the extent that the agent deems desirable or necessary; to contract and pay for the preparations and printing of records and briefs; to receive and execute and file or deliver any consent, waiver, release, confession of judgment, satisfaction of judgment, notice, agreement or other instrument which the agent deems desirable or necessary in connection with the prosecution, settlement or defense of any claim by or against the principal or of any litigation to which the principal is or may become or be designated a party;

(7) To appear for, represent and act for the principal with respect to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of the principal or of some other person, with respect to any reorganization proceeding, or with respect to any receivership or application for the appointment of a receiver or trustee which, in any way, affects any interest of the principal in any land, chattel, bond, share, commodity interest, chose in action or other thing of value;

(8) To hire, discharge and compensate any attorney, accountant, expert witness or other assistant or assistants when the agent deems this action to be desirable for the proper execution by him or her of any powers described in this section;

(9) To pay, from funds in his or her control or for the account of the principal, any judgment against the principal or any settlement which may be made in connection with any transaction enumerated in this section, and to receive and conserve any moneys or other things of value paid in settlement of or as proceeds of one or more of the transactions enumerated in this section, and to receive and endorse checks and to deposit them; and

(10) In general, and in addition to all the specific acts enumerated in this section, to do any other act or acts, which the principal can do through an agent, in connection with any claim by or against the principal or with litigation to which the principal is or may become or be designated a party.

(b) All powers described in this section shall be equally exercisable with respect to any claim or litigation existing at the giving of the power of attorney or thereafter arising, whether arising in the state of Rhode Island or elsewhere.

History of Section. (P.L. 1996, ch. 375, § 1.)