Undue influence is not an independent tort

The decedent’s son brought a tort action against the decedent’s paramour alleging that she unduly influenced the decedent so that he would not transfer shares in a closely held business to him. The court affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the complaint, holding that it is well-established that undue influence is grounds for relief only in equity and cannot be the basis for a suit at law for damages. Lavoie v. North East Knitting, Inc., 918 A.2d 225 (R.I. 2007).