Rhode Island General Laws 5-3.1-21. Use of card, sign, or advertisement as evidence – Single act sufficient evidence
The display or presentation of a card, sign, advertisement, or other printed, engraved, or written instrument or device bearing a person‘s or entity‘s name in conjunction with the words “certified public accountant,” “certified public accountants,” “public accountant,” or “public accountants,” or any abbreviation of those words, except as permitted by this chapter, is prima facie evidence in any action brought under § 5-3.1-19 or § 5-3.1-20 that the person or entity whose name is displayed caused or procured the display or presentation of that card, sign, advertisement, or other printed, engraved, or written instrument or device and that the person or entity is holding himself, herself, or itself out to the public as a certified public accountant or public accountant, or as a practice unit composed of certified public accountants and/or public accountants. In that action, evidence of the commission of a single act prohibited by this chapter is sufficient to justify an injunction, and a conviction need not be established for that purpose.
History of Section.
P.L. 1995, ch. 159, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 336, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 308, art. 1, § 3.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-3.1-21
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Entity: includes a general partnership, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, corporation, sole proprietor, trust, and joint venture. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-3.1-3
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Practice unit: means a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other entity engaged in the practice of public accounting in this state. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-3.1-3