( (
STATE OF MAINE RE SUPERIOR COURT ANDROSCOGGIN, SS. CE/VEO & F/LetJVIL ACTION APR 2 7 2017 DOCKET NO. AUBSC-RE-15-90 MARGARET LECLERC, AN ORotcoGG/N SUPERIOR COURT and ) ) MARGARET LECLERC, Personal ) Representative of the Estate of ) ORDER ON PLAINTIFF'S Malcolm L. Casey ) MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND ) DEFENDANTS WARREN AND Plaintiffs, ) ANGELA SMITH'S MOTION FOR ) PARTIAL JUDGMENT ON THE V. ) PLEADINGS ) WARREN SMITH, ) ANGELA SMITH, SCOTT WARD, ) and CLAYTON TIBBETTS, ) ) Defendants. )
Presently before the court are (1) Plaintiff's motion to reconsider the court's
order granting Defendants Warren and Angela Smith's motion for partial summary
judgment and (2) the Smiths' motion for partial judgment on the pleadings.' Based on
the following, Plaintiff's motion is denied and the Smiths' motion is granted in part and
denied in part.
I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff alleges that, beginning in 2012, the Smiths directed Defendant Tibbetts
to cut timber on the Smiths' property, and the harvest encroached significantly on
Plaintiff's abutting property. Plaintiff further alleges that the Smiths covered the
harvested area with fill and had a drainage and wetland ditch filled and graded. At the
time of the Smiths' alleged trespass, Plaintiff was the personal representative of her
, Although Plaintiff captions her motion as a motion to alter or amend the judgment, the court treats the motion as a motion to reconsider. See M.R. Civ. P. 7(b)(5), 59(e). , Although the Smiths caption their motion as a motion to dismiss, the court treats the motion as one for partial judgment on the pleadings because the Smiths filed their motion after they filed an answer to Plaintiff's amended complaint. See M.R. Civ. P. 12(b), 12(c).
Page 1 of 7 father's estate, which owned the property Plaintiff now owns. Plaintiff acquired title to
the property on January 17, 2014, almost seven months after the Smiths conveyed their
property to Defendant Ward on June 24, 2013.
Plaintiff filed a complaint in her individual capacity on November 18, 2015. In
the complaint, Plaintiff alleged: count I, common law trespass; count II, intentional
trespass, 14 M.R.S. § 7552; count III, negligent trespass, 14 M.R.S. § 7552; and count IV,
trespass damages, 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B.
On December 7, 2016, the court granted the Smiths' motion for partial summary
judgment. In the order, the court determined that Plaintiff had standing to pursue her
claims against the Smiths in her capacity as personal representative of her father's
estate, but not in her individual capacity. This conclusion was based on the fact that
Plaintiff was the personal representative in 2012, and Plaintiff had not raised a genuine
issue as to whether the Smiths continued to trespass after she acquired title 2014.
In the December 7, 2016 order, the court also granted Plaintiff's motion to amend
her complaint. Plaintiff's amended complaint brings the same counts as her original
complaint, but adds Ms. LeClerc as a Plaintiff in her capacity as personal representative.
Plaintiff filed her motion to reconsider on December 21, 2016. The Smiths
opposed the motion on January 11, 2017 and filed their motion for partial judgment on
the pleadings on January 17, 2017. Plaintiff opposed the motion on February 10, 2017.
The Smiths replied on February 17, 2017.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Reconsider
a. Standard of Review
"Motions for reconsideration of an order shall not be filed unless required to ,
bring to the court's attention an error, omission or new material that could not
Page 2 of 7 (
previously have been presented." M.R. Civ. P. 7(b )(5). The court treats a motion for
reconsideration as a motion to alter or amend the judgment. M.R. Civ. P. 59(e). The
court does not grant a motion to alter or amend the judgment "unless it is reasonably
clear that prejudicial error has been committed or that substantial justice has not been
done." Cates v. Farrington, 423 A.2d 539, 541 (Me. 1980).
b. Analysis
Plaintiff argues that she has standing to pursue claims against the Smiths in her
individual capacity because (1) she is entitled to "tack" the time during which she was
personal representative with the time during which she has owned the property, (2)
trespass claims run with the land, and (3) she has held an equitable interest in the
property since her father's death in 2011, at which time the property devolved to her as
sole devisee of her father's will. (Pl.'s Mot. Recons. 2-4.)
Plaintiff cites no authority that supports her view that tacking, a concept usually
applicable to adverse possession and prescriptive easement actions, applies to trespass
actions. See, e.g., Almeder v. Town of Kennebunkport, 2014 ME 139, 9I 29 n.18, 106 A.3d
1099; Kornbluth v. Kalur, 577 A.2d 1194, 1195 (Me. 1990).
Although a plaintiff may bring a trespass action regarding a trespass that began
before the plaintiff acquired her interest in the property, that analysis turns on whether
the trespass is continuing, i.e., whether it is abatable. Jacques v. Pioneer Plastics, Inc., 676
A.2d 504, 507-08 (Me. 1996). Although abatability is a question of fact, Plaintiff's
statement of material facts does not raise a genuine issue as to whether the Smiths'
alleged trespass is abatable. (Pl.'s Addt'l S.M.F. 9I 4; Pl.'s Dep. 56:22-57:8; 70:8-71:3); see
Jacques, 676 A.2d at 508 (plaintiffs generated issue of fact as to abatability by producing
DEP compliance order requiring option of removal in remediation study).
Page 3 of 7 (
Plaintiff's argument that she held an equitable interest is based on section 3-101
of Maine's Probate Code, which provides: "Upon the death of a person, his real and
personal property devolves to the persons to whom it is devised by his last will ...
subject to ... administration." 18-A M.R.S. § 3-101 (2016). Plaintiff cites no persuasive
authority for the proposition that this statute grants her an equitable interest sufficient
to give her standing to pursue her claims against the Smiths in an individual capacity.
B. Motion for Partial Judgment on the Pleadings
A defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings is generally treated as the
equivalent of a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. MacKerron v. MacKerron,
571 A.2d 810, 813 (Me. 1990). "[T]he court resolves a defense motion for judgment on
the pleadings by assuming that the factual allegations are true, examining the complaint
in the light most favorable to plaintiff, and ascertaining 'whether the complaint alleges
the elements of a cause of action or facts entitling the plaintiff to relief on some legal
theory.'" Cunninghum v. Haza, 538 A.2d 265, 267 (Mc. 1988) (quoting Robinson v.
Washington Cnty., 529 A.2d 1357, 1359 (Me. 1987)).
The Smiths ask the court to dismiss (1) Plaintiff's request for damages related to
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
( (
STATE OF MAINE RE SUPERIOR COURT ANDROSCOGGIN, SS. CE/VEO & F/LetJVIL ACTION APR 2 7 2017 DOCKET NO. AUBSC-RE-15-90 MARGARET LECLERC, AN ORotcoGG/N SUPERIOR COURT and ) ) MARGARET LECLERC, Personal ) Representative of the Estate of ) ORDER ON PLAINTIFF'S Malcolm L. Casey ) MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND ) DEFENDANTS WARREN AND Plaintiffs, ) ANGELA SMITH'S MOTION FOR ) PARTIAL JUDGMENT ON THE V. ) PLEADINGS ) WARREN SMITH, ) ANGELA SMITH, SCOTT WARD, ) and CLAYTON TIBBETTS, ) ) Defendants. )
Presently before the court are (1) Plaintiff's motion to reconsider the court's
order granting Defendants Warren and Angela Smith's motion for partial summary
judgment and (2) the Smiths' motion for partial judgment on the pleadings.' Based on
the following, Plaintiff's motion is denied and the Smiths' motion is granted in part and
denied in part.
I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff alleges that, beginning in 2012, the Smiths directed Defendant Tibbetts
to cut timber on the Smiths' property, and the harvest encroached significantly on
Plaintiff's abutting property. Plaintiff further alleges that the Smiths covered the
harvested area with fill and had a drainage and wetland ditch filled and graded. At the
time of the Smiths' alleged trespass, Plaintiff was the personal representative of her
, Although Plaintiff captions her motion as a motion to alter or amend the judgment, the court treats the motion as a motion to reconsider. See M.R. Civ. P. 7(b)(5), 59(e). , Although the Smiths caption their motion as a motion to dismiss, the court treats the motion as one for partial judgment on the pleadings because the Smiths filed their motion after they filed an answer to Plaintiff's amended complaint. See M.R. Civ. P. 12(b), 12(c).
Page 1 of 7 father's estate, which owned the property Plaintiff now owns. Plaintiff acquired title to
the property on January 17, 2014, almost seven months after the Smiths conveyed their
property to Defendant Ward on June 24, 2013.
Plaintiff filed a complaint in her individual capacity on November 18, 2015. In
the complaint, Plaintiff alleged: count I, common law trespass; count II, intentional
trespass, 14 M.R.S. § 7552; count III, negligent trespass, 14 M.R.S. § 7552; and count IV,
trespass damages, 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B.
On December 7, 2016, the court granted the Smiths' motion for partial summary
judgment. In the order, the court determined that Plaintiff had standing to pursue her
claims against the Smiths in her capacity as personal representative of her father's
estate, but not in her individual capacity. This conclusion was based on the fact that
Plaintiff was the personal representative in 2012, and Plaintiff had not raised a genuine
issue as to whether the Smiths continued to trespass after she acquired title 2014.
In the December 7, 2016 order, the court also granted Plaintiff's motion to amend
her complaint. Plaintiff's amended complaint brings the same counts as her original
complaint, but adds Ms. LeClerc as a Plaintiff in her capacity as personal representative.
Plaintiff filed her motion to reconsider on December 21, 2016. The Smiths
opposed the motion on January 11, 2017 and filed their motion for partial judgment on
the pleadings on January 17, 2017. Plaintiff opposed the motion on February 10, 2017.
The Smiths replied on February 17, 2017.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Reconsider
a. Standard of Review
"Motions for reconsideration of an order shall not be filed unless required to ,
bring to the court's attention an error, omission or new material that could not
Page 2 of 7 (
previously have been presented." M.R. Civ. P. 7(b )(5). The court treats a motion for
reconsideration as a motion to alter or amend the judgment. M.R. Civ. P. 59(e). The
court does not grant a motion to alter or amend the judgment "unless it is reasonably
clear that prejudicial error has been committed or that substantial justice has not been
done." Cates v. Farrington, 423 A.2d 539, 541 (Me. 1980).
b. Analysis
Plaintiff argues that she has standing to pursue claims against the Smiths in her
individual capacity because (1) she is entitled to "tack" the time during which she was
personal representative with the time during which she has owned the property, (2)
trespass claims run with the land, and (3) she has held an equitable interest in the
property since her father's death in 2011, at which time the property devolved to her as
sole devisee of her father's will. (Pl.'s Mot. Recons. 2-4.)
Plaintiff cites no authority that supports her view that tacking, a concept usually
applicable to adverse possession and prescriptive easement actions, applies to trespass
actions. See, e.g., Almeder v. Town of Kennebunkport, 2014 ME 139, 9I 29 n.18, 106 A.3d
1099; Kornbluth v. Kalur, 577 A.2d 1194, 1195 (Me. 1990).
Although a plaintiff may bring a trespass action regarding a trespass that began
before the plaintiff acquired her interest in the property, that analysis turns on whether
the trespass is continuing, i.e., whether it is abatable. Jacques v. Pioneer Plastics, Inc., 676
A.2d 504, 507-08 (Me. 1996). Although abatability is a question of fact, Plaintiff's
statement of material facts does not raise a genuine issue as to whether the Smiths'
alleged trespass is abatable. (Pl.'s Addt'l S.M.F. 9I 4; Pl.'s Dep. 56:22-57:8; 70:8-71:3); see
Jacques, 676 A.2d at 508 (plaintiffs generated issue of fact as to abatability by producing
DEP compliance order requiring option of removal in remediation study).
Page 3 of 7 (
Plaintiff's argument that she held an equitable interest is based on section 3-101
of Maine's Probate Code, which provides: "Upon the death of a person, his real and
personal property devolves to the persons to whom it is devised by his last will ...
subject to ... administration." 18-A M.R.S. § 3-101 (2016). Plaintiff cites no persuasive
authority for the proposition that this statute grants her an equitable interest sufficient
to give her standing to pursue her claims against the Smiths in an individual capacity.
B. Motion for Partial Judgment on the Pleadings
A defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings is generally treated as the
equivalent of a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. MacKerron v. MacKerron,
571 A.2d 810, 813 (Me. 1990). "[T]he court resolves a defense motion for judgment on
the pleadings by assuming that the factual allegations are true, examining the complaint
in the light most favorable to plaintiff, and ascertaining 'whether the complaint alleges
the elements of a cause of action or facts entitling the plaintiff to relief on some legal
theory.'" Cunninghum v. Haza, 538 A.2d 265, 267 (Mc. 1988) (quoting Robinson v.
Washington Cnty., 529 A.2d 1357, 1359 (Me. 1987)).
The Smiths ask the court to dismiss (1) Plaintiff's request for damages related to
the alleged tree cutting in count I, her common·law trespass claim, because damages for
tree cutting are allowed only in statutory trespass claims, (2) Plaintiff's request for
attorney's fees in count I because no statutory or contractual provision provides for an
award of attorney's fees, and (3) Plaintiff's request for costs related to tree regeneration
in counts II and III, her statutory trespass claims, because the version of the statute in
effect during the alleged trespass in 2012 did not allow for recovery of such costs. (Defs.'
Mot. J. Pleadings 2-4.)
Page 4 of 7 (
1. Count I
Plaintiff concedes that she cannot recover damages for the alleged tree cutting
under both her common law and statutory trespass claims. (Pl.'s Opp'n to Defs.' Mot. J.
Pleadings 3); see Fuschetti v. Murray, 2006 ME 100,
cases in which we have upheld the recovery of both statutory and common law trespass
damages for the same tree damage."); Woodworth v. Gaddis, 2012 ME 138,
1109 ("14 M.R.S. § 7552 replaces the common law with respect to damage to trees from a
trespass.") (footnote and internal quotation marks omitted).
With regard to Plaintiff's request for attorney's fees, the court has authority to
award attorney's fees based on: "(1) a contractual agreement between the parties; (2) a
specific statutory authorization; or (3) the court's inherent authority to sanction serious
misconduct in a judicial proceeding." Truman v. Browne, 2001 ME 182,
168. Although there is no contract or statute authorizing an award of attorney's fees
under count I, it would be premature to preclude the court's authority to sanction
misconduct in the unlikely event such a sanction becomes necessary.
2. Counts II and III
The version of 14 M.R.S. § 7552 in effect in 2012 provides in part: "For lost trees,
the owner may claim in lieu of market value the forfeiture amounts determined in Title
17, section 2510, subsections 2 and 3. In addition, the owner's damages may include the
costs for regeneration of the stand in accordance with Title 12, section 8869." 14 M.R.S. §
7552(3)(B) (2012). According to the statute's plain language, costs related to tree 3 regeneration were available in 2012. The Smiths argue that the allowance for damages
, The Smiths rely on Fuschetti to argue that the 2012 version of 14 M.R.S. § 7552 did not allow for the recovery of regeneration costs. (Def's' Reply to Pl.'s Opp. 3; Fuschetti v. Murray, 2006 ME 100,
Page 5 of 7 for regeneration costs pursuant to the 2012 version of 14 M.R.S. § 7552(3)(B) only
applied to commercial tree species. This is not a new matter raised in Plaintiff's
opposing memorandum. M.R. Civ. P. 7(e). Furthermore, examining the complaint :in the
light most favorable to Plaintiff, Plaintiff claims that the Smiths engaged Defendant
Clayton Tibbetts to remove "timber" from the property, leav:ing the question open as to
whether the property removed was, to some extent, comprised of commercial trees.• See
Woodworth v. Gaddis, 2012 ME 138,
regeneration cost damages for unauthorized "timber" harvesting under 14 M.R.S. §
7552(3)(B)) (quotation marks added); See Sanseverino v. Gregor, 2011 ME 8,
375 (where the court enjo:ined timber cutting operations because they violated a
restrictive covenant explicitly disallowing "commercial or business activity") (emphasis
added.) In addition, Plaintiff claims that a Maine Forest Ranger investigated her report
of the alleged timber harvest trespass, and that she hired a professional forester to
calculate the timber trespass damages. See Woodworth, 2012 ME 138,
(where the Court uphelu regeneration cost damages, in part, because of competent
evidence from a Forest Ranger for the regeneration cost calculation.)
III. CONCLUSION
Plaintiff's motion to reconsider is denied. The Smiths' motion for partial
judgment on the pleadings is granted in part and denied in part. Damages for the
alleged tree cutting are available under Plaintiff's statutory claims only. Plaintiff may
pursue costs for tree regeneration under her statutory claims. The court declines to
preclude its authority to award attorney's fees at this early stage in the litigation.
• "That sort of wood proper and suitable to be used for the construction of buildings, furniture, ships, etc." Ballentine's Law Dictionary (2010), available at Lexis Nexis BALLENTINE'S.
Page 6 of 7 ( (
The Clerk is directed to enter this Order on the civil docket by reference pursuant
to Maine Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a).
Date: i2~7
Page 7 of 7 MARGARET LECLERC - PLAINTIFF SUPERIOR COURT ANDROSCOGGIN, ss. Attorney for: MARGARET LECLERC Docket No AUBSC-RE-2015-00090 L CLINTON BOOTHBY - RETAINED 11/18/2015 BOOTHBY PERRY LLC 22 SCHOOL HOUSE HILL RD 105 PO BOX 216 DOCKET RECORD TURNER ME 04282
v. WARRENS SMITH - DEFENDANT
Attorney for: WARREN s SMITH WENDELL LARGE - RETAINED 12/16/2015 RICHARDSON WHITMAN LARGE & BADGER 465 CONGRESS STREET PO BOX 9545 PORTLAND ME 04112-9545
ANGELA M SMITH - DEFENDANT
Attorney for: ANGELA M SMITH WENDELL LARGE - RETAINED 12/16/2015 RICHARDSON WHITMAN LARGE & BADGER 465 CONGRESS STREET PO BOX 9545 PORTLAND ME 04112-9545
SCOTT EWARD - DEFENDANT
Attorney for: SCOTT EWARD MICHELLE ALLOTT - RETAINED 12/09/2015 FARRIS LAW PA 6 CENTRAL MAINE CROSSING
GARDINER ME 04345-0120
Attorney for: SCOTT EWARD J WILLIAM DRUARY JR - RETAINED 05/23/2016 MARDEN DUBORD BERNIER & STEVENS PA LLP 44 ELM STREET PO BOX 708 WATERVILLE ME 04901
CLAYTON TIBBETTS - DEFENDANT
Filing Document: COMPLAINT Minor Case Type: TRESPASS Filing Date: 11/18/2015
Docket Events: 11/18/2015 FILING DOCUMENT - COMPLAINT FILED ON 11/18/2015
11/18/2015 Party(s): MARGARET LECLERC ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 11/18/2015 RE-200 Page 1 of 7 Printed on: 04/28/2017