Robinson v. Norato

This is an action on the case brought by a tenant against his landlord for alleged overcharges of rent in violation of sec. 205 (e) of the federal emergency price control act of 1942, 50 U. S. C. A. App. §925 (e) and of regulations pursuant thereto governing the use and occupancy of housing accommodations in the city of Providence. Defendant demurred to the declaration in the superior court on several grounds, the principal one being that the statute on which the action is based is penal in its nature and therefore not cognizable, under the established law of Rhode Island, in the courts of…