R.I. Dist. Ct. R. Civ. P. 7

(a) Pleadings. There shall be a

complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaim shall be noted as such; an answer

to a cross-claim, if the answer contains a cross-claim; a third-party complaint, if a

person who was not an original party is summoned under the provisions of Rule 14;

and a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served. No other pleading shall

be allowed, except that the court may order a reply to an answer or a third-party

answer.

(b) Motions and Other Papers.

(1) An application to the court for an order shall be by motion which, unless made

during a hearing or trial, shall be made in writing, shall state with particularity the

grounds therefor, and shall set forth the relief or order sought. The requirement of

writing is fulfilled if the motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of the

motion.

(2) The rules applicable to captions, signing, and other matters of form of

pleadings apply to all motions and other papers provided for by these rules.

(3) The following motions and the notice of the hearing of such a motion shall be

served and filed not later than ten (10) days before the time specified for the hearing.

The following motions shall be deemed to be granted as a matter of course and shall

not be placed on the motion calendar unless objection stating the particular ground

therefor is served and filed at least three (3) days before the time specified for its

hearing:

(A) A motion to amend a pleading;

(B) A motion for leave to serve a third-party complaint;

(C) A motion for an order for a physical or mental examination;

(D) A motion to consolidate cases for trial;

(E) A motion to compel answers to interrogatories;

(F) A motion to compel more responsive answers to interrogatories;

(G) A motion to file a complaint out of time;

(H) A motion to enlarge time to file answers to interrogatories;

(I) A motion to compel production of documents; and

(J) A motion to attach wages or a notice of nonwage attachment pursuant to Rule

69.

A motion to compel answers to interrogatories, a motion to compel production of

documents, and a motion to compel more responsive answers to interrogatories shall

specify the number of days for compliance. If no such time is specified, it shall be

thirty (30) days. If a party fails to respond within the specified time, upon motion to

the court, a conditional order for dismissal or default shall enter specifying the

number of days for compliance. If no such time is specified, it shall be thirty (30)

days. If the party fails to respond to a conditional order for dismissal or default within

the specified time, entry for final judgment may be made upon motion to the court.

A motion to charge a garnishee shall be served in accordance with Rule 69.

The provisions of Rule 6(d) shall not apply to this subdivision.

(4) All motions shall be signed in accordance with Rule 11.

(c) Electronic Filing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers. When using

the EFS, all pleadings, motions, and other papers shall be filed in accordance with

Rule 1(b)(3).