RI gubernatorial candidate subject to civil arrest

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Giovanni Feroce is facing more legal trouble.

A district court judge ordered him subject to civil arrest for not appearing at his hearing Tuesday. That hearing was for the businessman to explain why he hasn’t paid back a debt to Broder Brothers Company.

Last May, a judge ordered Feroce pay the clothing distribution company roughly $8,000 to settle a lawsuit from 2016.

Court documents show the company claims Feroce owed money for, “goods sold and delivered and services rendered.”

Feroce’s campaign lawyer says the suit is about manufactured shirts produced for Benrus, where Feroce used to be CEO. He also used to head Alex and Ani.

Feroce made a series of post on social media alluding to this case, saying: “I am only getting stronger. They can’t stop us and they won’t stop us.”

Cindy Burke, the lawyer for Feroce’s campaign, released a statement Tuesday:

Mr. Feroce was out of state on business, but has every intention of fulfilling the court’s wishes. As with other Benrus matters, Mr. Feroce believed this was just another item under the receiver’s purview.  This suit is for manufactured shirt products produced for the company. Subsequently, this matter only names Mr. Feroce, and therefore he will address it and take care of it now that he has been made aware of how it reads. We will update you in the next day or two as soon as this is resolved. 

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