News

Can the Providence Place Mall be saved? Experiences are the key.

December 2024

With court-appointed receivers in place, the mall is getting spruced up as it is prepared for a sale in 2025. Read full article here.

From The Providence Journal: Volunteers sought for Cranston cemetery cleanup as property control goes to special master

April 2024

CRANSTON – The 12-acre Oakland Cemetery on Broad Street, a perennial source of city consternation for its lack of upkeep, is now in the hands of a lawyer appointed by the city's Municipal Court who...

Ferrucci Russo Dorsey, PC Assists in Securing Two Brownfields Grant Awards

January 2024

January 2024 PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Daniel J. McKee and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announce the award of $2.525 million in reimbursable grants under the Brownfields...

Central Falls Nuisance Task Force prioritizes receivership properties

November 2023

CENTRAL FALLS – The city’s Nuisance Property Task Force recently added 10 properties in receivership to its master list of nuisance properties. Read full article here.

From The Valley Breeze: All signs point toward demolition of old train station

March 2023

PAWTUCKET/CENTRAL FALLS – In the end, a viable future for the old Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station on the line between the two cities might not be viable after all, The Breeze has...

From Providence Business News: 180-unit apartment complex at new Pawtucket train station gets initial OK

March 2023

PAWTUCKET – The Pawtucket City Planning Commission has approved the master plan for a 180-unit apartment building next to the newly opened Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center. The six-story...

From The Westerly Sun: New BDA owner moves away from plan for residential reuse of property

March 2023

WESTERLY — The buyer of the former Bradford Dyeing Association site has shifted away from plans for residential development to favor more commercial or light industrial uses. Attorney John Dorsey, ...

From Providence Business News: East Providence, Churchill & Banks break ground on $120M East Point project

November 2022

East Providence - Churchill & Banks Co. subsidiary Noble Development LLC, along with city officials, recently broke ground on the construction of $120 million, 392-unit waterfront residential...

From The Westerly Sun: Acquisition of Potter Hill Mill property moves closer

July 2022

WESTERLY — The town should soon own the former Potter Hill Mill property, including the dam that spans the Pawcatuck River, and the mill buildings themselves should be torn down no later than...

From the Westerly Sun: Officials to get help from McKee on potential future uses of Potter Hill Mill site

April 2022

WESTERLY — Officials are hoping a visit from Gov. Daniel J. McKee to the Potter Hill Mill property will help spur support and ideas on what to do with it. "I'm hoping we can talk about what can be...

From Providence Business Journal: Bids sought for ultimate property flip: the old Pawtucket/Central Falls station

October 2021

The once-grand Pawtucket-Central Falls station stands covered in graffiti, filled with trash and frequented by trespassers. Over the years, a series of private owners neglected to secure the...

From The Westerly Sun: Westerly council to discuss using Rescue Plan Act funding for use in Potter Hill Mill demolition

September 2021

WESTERLY — The Town Council will consider, during a meeting scheduled for Monday, committing $400,000 in anticipated federal COVID-19 relief funds toward demolishing the Potter Hill Mill. Actual...

From Lawyers Weekly: Federal judge declines to rule on PPP loan eligibility

September 2021

August 2021 A nonprofit organization operating under a non-liquidating state receivership could not seek a declaratory judgment that it was eligible for a loan it received under the Paycheck...

From Providence Business News: Newport Beach Club in Portsmouth sold for $9M, development site to include 108 new homes

May 2021

PORTSMOUTH – A 125-acre, waterfront property known as the Newport Beach Club has been sold from receivership for $9.15 million. The new owner, a development team, plans to build out a plan for...

From The Westerly Sun: Officials hope tour of Potter Hill Mill will jump-start a solution

April 2021

WESTERLY — The mighty and massive granite blocks that make up the walls of part of the Potter Hill Mill remain in place, but the floors inside are falling in on each other. Other buildings on the...

From The Westerly Sun: Feedback from public on Potter Hill Dam encouraged at Thursday Zoom meeting

March 2021

WESTERLY — A team of engineers, scientists, and community partners evaluating potential solutions for the flood risks posed by the deteriorating Potter Hill Dam will discuss their findings Thursday...

From The Westerly Sun: Consultant to develop action plan for former BDA mill

March 2021

WESTERLY — An environmental consultant has been hired to help establish a remedial action work plan for four chemically contaminated wastewater lagoons on the former Bradford Dyeing Association...

From The Valley Breeze: Twin River Casino expansion on fast track

September 2020

Representatives from Twin River Casino appeared before the Lincoln Planning Board last week to pitch the Lincoln casino’s plans for expanding. The casino is planning to build a 10,641-square-foot spa...

From Providence Business News: R.I. court program offers struggling businesses a lifeline

August 2020

Have there been too many state and federal support programs competing for the attention of local businesses during the pandemic? That may sound crazy in a state of approximately 1 million residents...

From Providence Business News: Innovative R.I. court program to protect pandemic-crippled businesses goes untapped

August 2020

Government lifelines are disappearing for businesses gutted by the COVID-19 pandemic. . . .Yet, a lifeline set up months ago by the R.I. Judiciary to help rescue business owners pinned between...

Our New Firm Name: Ferrucci Russo Dorsey

July 2020

We proudly announced our new firm name -- Ferrucci Russo Dorsey -- in July of 2020 to reflect the achievements and contributions of John Dorsey. “Our firm is proud to add John Dorsey as a name...

From Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly: Superior Court eyes protection for businesses

April 2020

In response to the significant disruptions being wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Superior Court has launched a business recovery plan designed to provide a participating company with...

From Providence Business News: Superior Court approves new program for businesses to stay collections, evictions

April 2020

A program ordered by the R.I. Superior Court could offer a needed lifeline to businesses that have been hit hard by losses associated with COVID-19. The COVID-19 Non-Liquidating Receivership Program...

Rhode Island Superior Court Business Recovery Plan

April 2020

Presiding Justice Alice B. Gibney has announced the start of a business protection program, the Business Recovery Plan, in response to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The court will provide...

From Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly: Superior Court launches business protection program

March 2020

The Superior Court will start a business protection program in response to disruptions caused by COVID-19, Presiding Justice Alice B. Gibney said on March 31. Under the Business Recovery Plan, the...

Ferrucci Russo secures defense victory in the Sakonnet River Bridge trial

February 2020

After 41 days of trial on the Superior Court Business Calendar before Justice Sarah Taft-Carter, Mark Russo of Ferrucci Russo and his team just secured a complete defense victory for their client, ...

From The Valley Breeze: Demolition begins at 258 Pine St.

January 2020

Working alongside a special master appointed by the Rhode Island Superior Court, the city announced that the demolition of the burned-out old mill building at 258 Pine St., began on Monday. “This...

From Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly: Arbitration - Forum Selection Clause

December 2019

Where two petitions have been filed seeking arbitration of disputes concerning the cannabis industry, a motion to dismiss should be denied despite a Maine forum selection clause contained in one of...

From The Westerly Sun: Early plans presented for redevelopment of BDA mill site

November 2019

A representative of the new owners of a portion of the former Bradford Dyeing Association property discussed early-stage plans for the property with the Planning Board on Tuesday. Aurora Leigh, a...

From Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly: RICO claims premised on usurious loans dismissed

October 2019

A Superior Court judge has dismissed RICO claims brought by a plaintiff receiver against several defendants, including an attorney, his law firm, and a Florida limited liability company, finding...

From The Valley Breeze: Special master seeks to remove mills at 258 Pine St.

September 2019

The court-appointed special master charged with defining the future for the burned-out mill property near a coming new commuter rail station has outlined steps he plans to take with the...

From Newport Daily News: Tiverton Casino Hotel allowed to remain a 24-hour operation

August 2019

There were no objections at a public hearing Monday night on a request by Twin River to change the pilot 24-hour operating license at Tiverton Casino Hotel to a permanent one, but it still must be...

From Law 360: Pot Giant's Acquisition Plans Stymied in Competition Dispute

August 2019

A Rhode Island state court has pumped the brakes on cannabis behemoth Acreage Holdings' proposed purchase of nonprofit dispensary Greenleaf after a regional cannabis outfit accused Acreage of a raft...

From New England Real Estate Journal: Advancing the abatement of blighted mill buildings through court-supervised mastership

August 2019

In Rhode Island, there is a well-established precedent of Court-supervised proceedings to liquidate insolvent real estate projects, including projects that have a historical mill building component, ...

From Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly: ‘Customary practices’ validate power plant water deal

April 2019

An agreement under which the town of Johnston would re-sell some of the water it draws from the Scituate Reservoir to supply the steam turbines at a proposed $1 billion power plant in Burrillville...

From Providence Journal: Burrillville power-plant proposal wins court battle over Johnston water deal

April 2019

A Superior Court judge has upheld a water deal between the Town of Johnston and Invenergy that is key to the Chicago developer’s plan to build a $1-billion power plant in Burrillville. In a...

From The Westerly Sun: Westerly to seek EPA grant for cleanup of old mill's wastewater lagoons

December 2018

Town officials plan to apply for a $500,000 grant from the federal government to fund the cleanup of four lagoons that were used to treat chemicals and other wastewater at the former Bradford Dyeing...

From Providence Journal: Century-old state law may decide case involving Invenergy, Burrillville, Johnston and the future of energy in Rhode Island

August 2018

The crux of a lawsuit over a water deal between the Town of Johnston and Chicago-based power plant developer Invenergy may come down to six words in a century-old state law. Those words — “other...

From Providence Journal: Tiverton officials to discuss sports betting revenue with governor's office

June 2018

Town administrators from Tiverton and Lincoln have a meeting with the governor’s office today to talk about sports betting that could come to the two casinos in the state in the near future. See...

From Providence Journal: Tiverton board approves name of road leading to casino

April 2018

The private road leading to the Twin River-Tiverton casino and hotel project will be called Tiverton Casino Boulevard, a name that will make it easier for people to find the place and allow its...

From New England Real Estate Journal: Preserving assets through non-liquidating court-supervised proceedings

October 2017

Court-supervised receivership and special master proceedings are designed to seek the Court's intervention to exercise its powers over assets in order to preserve and protect the value of those...

From Woonsocket Call: City Wants to Level River Street

October 2017

Borrowing a strategy that other communities have used to restore abandoned, blighted real estate to the tax rolls, the city has petitioned into receivership the owners of the defunct factory complex...

From Newport Daily News: Planning Board Approves Final Plan for Twin River-Tiverton Casino

August 2017

The final plan for Twin River-Tiverton casino and hotel was approved by the Planning Board on Wednesday night, paving the way for a building permit to be issued for the project at William S. Canning...

From New England Real Estate Journal: Real estate transactions involving underground storage tanks can be complicated but successful

May 2017

The purchase and sale of real estate involving underground storage tanks ("UST") can create complications in reaching a successful sale transaction. Understanding the applicable local and state laws...

From South Coast Today:Tiverton, Fall River residents take tour of Twin River casino site

April 2017

By Michael Holtzman, The Herald News TIVERTON — Near the intersection of Stafford Road and William S. Canning Boulevard, where Twin River-Tiverton LLC plans to build an 80,000-square-foot casino, at...

From Herald News: Tiverton casino on 'fast track' following DEM ruling

January 2017

The plans by Twin River to build a casino and hotel on 45 acres off of William S. Canning Boulevard represents an "insignificant alteration" to the wetlands on the property, the Rhode Island...

From New England Real Estate Journal: Rehabilitating Blighted Residential Properties Through Court-Supervised Receivership

November 2016

Rehabilitating blighted, residential properties presents a number of complex issues. Currently, there are several strategies emerging to reposition these properties through court-supervised...

Firm Assists Development Project Secure Over $2M in Rebuild RI Tax Credits & Sales Tax Incentives

September 2016

The firm was recently involved in assisting the developer of the Lippitt Mill in securing up to $2.1 million from the State’s Rebuild Rhode Island tax-credit program and up to $230,691 in sales tax...

TIVERTON CASINO - Potential changes needed to include casino

July 2016

From Newport Daily News --Twin River attorney Mark Russo told the Planning Board the company wanted to address the comprehensive plan amendment now, which would include a detailed description of the...

Rumford's East Pointe may finally get new investors

May 2016

From The Providence Journal EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — After years of litigation, 9 acres in the Phillipsdale section of Rumford may get new owners who plan to build 144 apartments on the property, ...

Firm Assists Development Projects Prepare Applications Resulting in $280K in Brownfields Remediation Grants

March 2016

The firm was recently involved in assisting two distressed properties receive $280,000 in grants from the newly-created Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund. The grants are part of...

John Dorsey Named Partner

January 2016

The law firm of Ferrucci Russo is proud to announce that John Dorsey has been named a partner in the firm. John serves as counsel to court-appointed receivers in the Rhode Island Superior Court...

Guest Article in PBN: Receiver Can Unlock Value

October 2015

Mark Russo's guest column for Providence Business News. With economic development and job creation closely tied to land development, Rhode Island saw a number of real estate development projects...

Twin River Hotel Moves Forward

September 2015

From The Valley Breeze: LINCOLN - Despite some public opposition, the Town Council unanimously voted to approve an application for a comprehensive plan amendment and zone change application...

PBN: Q and A with John Dorsey

September 2015

John Dorsey, an attorney at Ferrucci Russo, was recently named a court-appointed receiver by the R.I. Superior Court. Dorsey has a wealth of experience in cases involving insolvency, turn-around and...

John Dorsey Named to Court-Appointed Receiver Panel

August 2015

Congratulations to firm attorney John Dorsey who was recently named to the R.I. Superior Court panel of Court-appointed receivers. John joined the firm in 2010 and has gained a breadth of experience...

Westerly Hospital Receivership Donates $1M Back to Hospital

June 2015

From the Providence Journal -- WESTERLY, R.I. -- Westerly Hospital is getting something of a bonus as it reaches the formal conclusion of its receivership: The community hospital will receive $1...

Lippitt Mill Complex Sold

February 2015

Ferrucci Russo closed the sale of Lippitt Mill to JSA Equities of New York on February 27th. The property will be converted into a 94-unit residential development. In order to reach a closing, ...

East Providence Ramps Up Effort to Sell, Develop Waterfont Site

January 2015

From the Providence Journal: EAST PROVIDENCE — A big chunk of underutilized East Providence waterfront will get a formal push onto the market in the coming weeks as the result of negotiations...

John Dorsey Named to Quonset Board

January 2015

Congratulations to Ferrucci Russo attorney John Dorsey who joined the Board of Directors for Quonset Development Corporation where he serves on the finance and compensation committees. He was...

Mark Russo Authors Article in PBN on Westerly Hospital Receivership

December 2014

In December 2014, Mark Russo authored a guest article in Providence Business News entitled: “Westerly Hospital Shows Bankruptcy Not Only Option.” It marked three years since December of 2011 when...

Ferrucci Russo Affiliates for Healthcare Services with National Law Firm

December 2014

Mark Russo, founder and principal of the Providence-based law firm Ferrucci Russo P.C., announced the firm’s of-counsel affiliation with the 300-attorney Healthcare Law practice of McElroy, Deutsch, ...

Ferrucci Russo Receives OK To Develop Lippitt Mill

December 2014

Last month, the West Warwick Town Council members approved a consent order giving permission to convert the historic Lippitt Mill to residential apartments. After a competitive bid process, the bid...

Sale of the Westerly Hospital lauded by national trade group

February 2014

"Superior Court Associate Justice Brian P. Stern appointed Providence-based attorney Mark Russo as special master to run the hospital during the receivership and to seek bids for its acquisition. ...

Hospital deal overseen by Superior Court wins award from business network

January 2014

"The Merger & Acquisition Advisor, based in New York City, announced last week that the hospital’s acquisition in 2013 by Lawrence & Memorial Hospital of New London, Conn., would receive its annual...

Westerly Hospital restructuring receives national recognition

January 2014

"The Westerly Hospital filed for receivership in December 2011 after struggling to pay its creditors and employees. Superior Court Associate Justice Brian P. Stern appointed attorney W. Mark Russo as...