Helen L. Hyde v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence Jeffrey Thomas v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence

OPINION

Justice FLAHERTY,

for the Court.

The plaintiffs, Helen L. Hyde and Jeffrey Thomas, brought suit against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence, seeking damages arising from their alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Father Brendan Smyth more than four decades ago. The Superior Court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant. The plaintiffs appealed, arguing that the trial justice erred when she decided that the statute of limitations barred their claims because, they argue, their inability to recall the abuse tolled the statute of limitations until such time as they became…