Here is a story about a government program that was created in response to a need … and worked.
The “business calendar,” a division of R.I. Superior Court that works with business cases exclusively, came into being in 2001 with the idea that by pulling business cases out of the regular stream of court proceedings, they could be resolved more quickly.
Why would that matter? If a company is on the verge of collapse due to a death or other unexpected happening, a quick resolution to the case could mean the difference between it staying in or going out of business. And going out of business would mean not just a loss for the owners/investors, but a trip to the unemployment line for its workers.
Some cases are more complex than how to unwind (or not) a business in trouble. Take, for instance, the Burrillville natural gas-fired power plant, which has a contract with Johnston to supply the water it needs to function. At issue is whether Johnston can resell water it has bought from Providence. Given how important a consistent supply of energy is to the state’s economic prosperity, there may not be a more important case in court today. And it’s a good thing the business calendar is there to hear it.
By concentrating business issues with two judges – Michael A. Silverstein and Brian P. Stern – a level of expertise is built up, something that makes rulings more rational.
While it is not a good sign if an enterprise finds itself on the business calendar, all its stakeholders should thank the state for carving out this exception to the standard procedures.