Galbin Fernandez v. Rhode Island Public Transit…

Summary

The Court held that the trial justice abused her discretion by admitting testimony and a report recounting statements allegedly made by Pena through an unidentified Spanish interpreter. The evidence was hearsay, could not be justified under the agency or language-conduit theories on this record, and was not harmless because it directly contradicted the plaintiff's evidence and was not cumulative. The order denying a new trial was reversed and the case was remanded for a new trial.