R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-57-39

Any person aggrieved by any final action of the licensing authority under this chapter shall have the right of appeal directly to the superior court and shall be entitled to a trial de novo. After the superior court has acquired jurisdiction, all administrative action taken on that matter prior to this shall be stayed. The rights of the parties shall be determined by the court upon a trial of the matter or matters in controversy under rules governing the trial of other civil suits in the same manner and to the same extent as though the matter had been committed to the court in the first instance and there had been no intervening administrative or executive action or decision.