Rhode Island – November 20, 2019 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) Partner Gene M. Carlino, a prominent estate and trust attorney, authored a comprehensive review of a bill pending in the U.S. Senate entitled, “Setting Every Community up for Retirement...
PLDO Law Blog
Month: November 2019

General Assembly Eliminates “Open and Obvious” As Complete Defense To Personal Injury Claims
In legislation approved by the Governor on July 15, 2019, the General Assembly amended section 9-20-4 of the General Laws (the Comparative Negligence statute) such that the open and obvious defense to personal injury claims can no longer act as a complete bar to...
PLDO Partner Brian J. Lamoureux to be a Featured Speaker on “Data Security In the Digital Age” at RI Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference
Rhode Island – November 4, 2019 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) Partner Brian J. Lamoureux, a prominent business and employment lawyer and leading voice on social and digital media law, will be a featured speaker at the 2019 Rhode Island Workers'...
Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara Named a 2020 “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
Rhode Island – November 1, 2019 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) announced today that it has been named to the 2020 “Best Law Firms” in America list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® for 14 practice areas in Rhode Island and Boston,...
LAST MINUTE CHANGE TO RI ADULT USE CANNABIS LEGISLATION BENEFITS LICENSED CULTIVATORS
Rhode Island appears to be on a definitive track towards legalization of cannabis and establishing a framework for its adult use industry. More than 15 years after establishing its medical marijuana program and, following years of on-and-off momentum, the Rhode Island...
THE TREES CAN STAY (FOR NOW) – A LESSON ON WRIT OF MANDAMUS
In a recently published opinion, the Rhode Island Supreme Court addressed when it is and is not appropriate for the court to grant the issuance of a writ of mandamus. A writ of mandamus is used to compel the performance of an act by a public officer. In the case...
DIRECTED TRUSTS PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE CLOSELY-HELD BUSINESS OWNER
In July 2021, Florida adopted the new Florida Uniform Directed Trust Act (“FUDTA”). Modern directed trusts are one of the best vehicles to provide intergenerational wealth preservation and flexibility. Historically, all the functions of a trustee have been handled by...
NUTS & BOLTS OF A ROLL-UP STRATEGY IN BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
In a roll-up strategy, the buyer—usually a private equity fund—identifies a highly fragmented industry, which is a situation where multiple companies compete, and there is no single or small group of companies that dominates that specific industry. Subsequently, the...
THE SAFE BANKING ACT: WILL 2022 OPEN THE DOOR FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES TO ACCESS COMMERCIAL BANKING?
Lawful cannabis businesses in the United States have historically and predominately relied on private funding to establish and prop up their operations until they can sustain themselves as revenue-driven enterprises. This is because cannabis remains illegal under...