§ 19-9-7. Attorney’s opinions.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (d), no lending institution making a loan in this state, or any attorney, agent, or representative for that lending institution, shall directly or indirectly, as a condition of a loan or advance, require any attorney representing a borrower in the loan transaction to give an opinion in relation to the validity, binding effect, or enforceability of any of the loan documents or the availability of remedies thereunder.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any transaction in which the state, or any municipality in the state, or any department, agency, authority, or instrumentality of the state is the borrower.
(c) Subsection (a) shall not apply to transactions involving the public sale or underwriting of bonds, debentures, or other securities.
(d) Subsection (a) shall not prohibit, as part of a loan transaction, any requirement or condition with respect to opinions dealing with the authority and status of a borrower and matters relating to collateral.
(e) No opinion obtained in violation of this section may be relied on for any purpose, and this opinion shall not give rise to, or form the basis for, any action against any attorney or firm rendering the opinion. Any lending institution, or attorney, agent, or representative of a lending institution, knowingly violating this section shall be subject to an action as may be lawfully imposed by the regulatory authority or court that has licensing or disciplinary authority over the lending institution, attorney, or other individual in question.
History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 82, § 47.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 19 - Financial Institutions
Chapter 19-9 - Community Obligations and Banking Offenses
Section 19-9-1. - Definitions.
Section 19-9-2. - Escrow accounts — Interest.
Section 19-9-2.1. - Mortgage billing — Payment allocation.
Section 19-9-3. - Mortgages — Appraisal fees.
Section 19-9-3.1. - Mortgage loan appraisers — Relationship with lending institution.
Section 19-9-4. - Credit needs of local communities.
Section 19-9-5. - Mortgagor to be offered title insurance.
Section 19-9-6. - Lending institutions — Title attorney.
Section 19-9-7. - Attorney’s opinions.
Section 19-9-8. - Lending institutions — Negative amortization loans.
Section 19-9-9. - Mortgages issued — Payoffs.
Section 19-9-10. - Disbursement requirements — Purchase money loans — Dwellings.
Section 19-9-11. - Control of deposits by minors.
Section 19-9-12. - Trust deposits — Death of trustee.
Section 19-9-13. - Checks of trustees.
Section 19-9-14. - Deposits payable to survivor.
Section 19-9-14.1. - Uniform multiple-person accounts.
Section 19-9-15. - Pledge of passbook accounts.
Section 19-9-16. - Replacement of lost or destroyed passbook.
Section 19-9-17. - Charge-free savings accounts for minors.
Section 19-9-18. - Depositor identification.
Section 19-9-19. - Checks on consumer deposit accounts to show date account was opened.
Section 19-9-20. - Withdrawal from time deposit accounts.
Section 19-9-21. - Passbook savings accounts — Service charge prohibited.
Section 19-9-21.1. - Fee disclosure by banks, credit unions and other financial institutions.
Section 19-9-22. - Violations by officers and employees.
Section 19-9-24. - Fraudulent checks — Small amounts.
Section 19-9-25. - Fraudulent checks — Large amounts.
Section 19-9-26. - Prima facie evidence of intent to defraud — Prosecutions.
Section 19-9-27. - Check kiting.
Section 19-9-28. - False statement to obtain loan.
Section 19-9-29. - Bank fraud.
Section 19-9-30. - Injunctions against fraud.
Section 19-9-31. - False rumors as to condition of regulated institution.
Section 19-9-32. - Disclosure of arson conviction.
Section 19-9-33. - Severability.
Section 19-9-34. - Property insurance.
Section 19-9-35. - Consumer privacy in mortgage applications.