View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/06/09/69337.htm
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has denied the request of Governor Donald L. Carcieri to stay a Superior Court ruling which prohibits him from removing Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. board members George Nee and Henry Boeninger.
Carcieri’s press secretary, Jeff Neal, noted that the Governor is “disappointed” and maintained that the appeal could still be heard by the state’s high court later.
“The court simply decided not to move the Governor’s appeal to the front of the queue. The justices did not make any ruling or decision on the merits of the Governor’s appeal. At first glance, it appears that this decision simply means that the legal process will take longer than it would have if the Supreme Court had chosen to give this case special treatment,” Neal said in a statement.
However, the effect of the high court’s ruling is that the Governor is prohibited from removing Nee and Boeniger for now. The court does not meet all summer and reconvenes in September.
In the end, however, the Governor may get his way. The gubernatorial appointments, of which Nee and Boeninger are two, expire in November and the Governor is then free to name new directors to those slots.