Pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 24-5-13, if
any person shall incur damage to his or her motor vehicle by reason
of a pothole on any City highway, causeway, street or bridge, which
damage would not have occurred without the existence of the pothole,
he or she may recover from the City the amount of damages sustained
up to and not more than the sum of $300; provided, however, that the
municipality had reasonable notice of the pothole, or may have had
notice thereof by the exercise of proper care and diligence on its
part, and a reasonable opportunity to repair the pothole.
All claims shall be made within a period of
seven days from the date on which the damage was sustained by filing
a written report with the office of the City Clerk.
In no instance, shall any claim for damage so
caused to a motor vehicle registered in a foreign state be considered
unless that state has a similar statute affording similar protection
to persons owning motor vehicles registered in this state.