Pelletier v. Smith

• Court: Superior Court of Maine
• Decided: September 7, 2005
• Docket: PENre-03-31
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT PENOBSCOT, SS. Docket No. RE-03-31

GORDON PELLETIER, et al., ) Plaintiff, ) i, r i . . . : . . . .- . . " ' .-- e . , ,.. , -7 ~

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LOWELL SMITH, ) Defendant. )

The case of Larrabee v. Town of Knox, 2000ME 15; 744 A.2d 544 (Me. 2000)' provides (in no uncertain terms) that a court cannot dismiss a claim of a party because that a current party failed to join a necessary party.1 It does not matter that the current - , - - y a r m 7 e q m t a r r r r i - r p o r t m -johrtmartJ,: Rather,-the m r t m u s t u n k - --- -- .---

joinder - upon its own initiative - where the necessary party is susceptible to service of As that is tile case her-e,"t,e c"ur-t is discre~oilt" t;~i-lg except joinder.

Accordingly, that portion of the Court's' Judgment w h c h deals with the Plaintiffs' Complaint is vacated. The Plaintiffs are ordered to file an amended Complaint adding Gloria Smith as a defendant. After service, the parties are directed to advise the court within h r t y days whether further evidentiary hearings will be requested. In the absence of such, the court will render judgment upon the existing record.

The Clerk may incorporate this Order upon the docket by reference.

Dated: September 7, 2005

w M. Mead ' MAINE SUPERIOR COURT

1 This court's Judgment of May 2, 2005, effectively operated as a dismissal of the Plaintiffs' equitable claims for relief. 2 Gloria Smith is available for service. GORDON L PELLETIER - PLAINTIFF SUPERIOR COURT 608 FULLER RD PENOBSCOT, ss . HERMON ME 04401 Docket No BANSC-RE-2003-00031 Attorney for: GORDON L PELLETIER TERENCE HARRIGAN - RETAINED 11/21/2003 VAFIADES BROUNTAS & KOMINSKY DOCKET RECORD 23 WATER STREET PO BOX 919 BANGOR ME 04402-0919

SALLY PELLETIER - PLAINTIFF 608 FULLER ROAD HERMON ME 04401 Attorney for: SALLY PELLETIER TERENCE HARRIGAN - RETAINED 11/21/2003 VAFIADES BROUNTAS & KOMINSKY 23 WATER STREET PO BOX 919 BANGOR ME 04402-0919

vs LOWELL W SMITH - DEFENDANT 338 WOODBRIDGE CORNER RD SHERMAN ME 04775 Attorney for: LOWELL W SMITH PATRICK HUNT - RETAINED 12/02/2003 LAW OFFICE PATRICK E. HUNT 7 SHERMAN ST PO BOX 130 ISLAND FALLS ME 04747

Filing Document: COMPLAINT Minor Case Type: EQUITABLE REMEDIES Filing Date: 11/21/2003

Docket Events: 11/21/2003 FILING DOCUMENT - COMPLAINT FILED ON 11/21/2003 (TITLE TO REAL ESTATE IS INVOLVED) (EXHIBIT A ATTACHED)

11/24/2003 Party(s): GORDON L PELLETIER ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 11/21/2003 Plaintiff's Attorney: TERENCE HARRIGAN

11/24/2003 CERTIFY/NOTIFICATION - CASE FILE NOTICE SENT ON 11/24/2003 TO PLAINTIFF' S ATTORNEY.

11/24/2003 Party(s) : SALLY PELLETIER ATTORNEY - RETAINED ENTERED ON 11/21/2003 Plaintiff's Attorney: TERENCE HARRIGAN

11/26/2003 Party (s): LOWELL W SMITH SUMMONS/SERVICE - CIVIL SUMMONS FILED ON 11/26/2003 BY PLAINTIFF.

11/26/2003 Party(s): LOWELL W SMITH Page 1 of 7 Printed on: 09/13/2005