Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 14
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B (2026)

Trespass damages

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Prohibition.  A person who intentionally enters the land of another without permission and causes damage to property is liable to the owner in a civil action if the person:  
A. Damages or throws down any fence, bar or gate; leaves a gate open; breaks glass; damages any road, drainage ditch, culvert, bridge, sign or paint marking; or does other damage to any structure on property not that person's own; or   [PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
B. Throws, drops, deposits, discards, dumps or otherwise disposes of litter, as defined in Title 17, section 2263, subsection 2, in any manner or amount, on property not that person's own.   [PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
2.  Liability.  If the damage to the property is caused intentionally, the person is liable to the owner for 2 times the owner's actual damages plus any additional costs recoverable under subsection 3, paragraphs B and C. If the damage to the property is not caused intentionally, the person is liable to the owner for the owner's actual damages plus any additional costs recoverable under subsection 3, paragraphs B and C.  
[PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
3.  Damages recoverable.  The owner's damages include:  
A. Actual damages, as measured by subsection 4;   [PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
B. Costs the owner may incur if the damage results in a violation of any federal, state or local law or ordinance and, as a result, the owner becomes the subject of an enforcement proceeding. These costs include attorney's fees, costs and the value of the owner's time spent on involvement in the enforcement proceeding; and   [PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
C. Reasonable attorney's fees for preparing the claim and bringing the court action under this section plus costs.   [PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
4.  Measure of damages.  For damage to property under subsection 1, paragraph A, the owner's damages may be measured either by the replacement value of the damaged property or by the cost of repairing the damaged property. For damages for disposing of litter, the owner's damages include the direct costs associated with properly disposing of the litter, including obtaining permits, and the costs associated with any site remediation work undertaken as a result of the litter.  
[PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
5.  Other actions barred.  A recovery from a defendant under this section bars an action to recover damages under section 7552 from that defendant for the same specific damage.  
[PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 585, §1 (NEW).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 44 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1999–2024 · leading case: Susan C. Harvey v. Addison H. Furrow Jr., 2014 ME 149 (Me. 2014).
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Susan C. Harvey v. Addison H. Furrow Jr., 2014 ME 149 (Me. 2014). · cites it 8× “The court entered judgment in favor of Furrow and Lane on each of the remaining claims, including Harvey’s claim for statutory trespass damages pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B (2013). The court, acknowledging that it was doubtful that any justiciable claims remained, also stated…”
Mark W. Ogden v. Joedy Labonville, 2020 ME 133 (Me. 2020). · cites it 4× “Labonville did not specify in her counterclaim the statutory provision upon which she grounded her trespass claim—14 M.R.S. § 7551-B (2020) or 14 M.R.S. § 7552 (2020)—but the trial court concluded that she had failed to present a prima facie case under either standard.”
Lougee Conservancy v. Citimortgage, Inc., 48 A.3d 774 (Me. 2012). “” [¶ 9] The Lougees brought suit against CitiMortgage, Safeguard, and D & S in the Superior Court as individual beneficiaries and trustees of the Lougee Conservancy, claiming (1) common law trespass, (2) statutory trespass pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B (2011), (3) invasion of…”
Kapler v. Kapler, 2000 ME 131 (Me. 2000). · cites it 3× “14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (Supp.1999). Section 7552 states in pertinent part: 2.”
Raymond v. Lyden, 1999 ME 59 (Me. 1999). · cites it 3× “) on the plaintiffs’ 1 action for trespass pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (Supp.1998). 2 In addition, the Lydens appeal from the judgments dismissing their counterclaim for slander of title, granting the plaintiffs’ motion to retain the case on the docket, and awarding counsel…”
Dionne v. LeClerc, 2006 ME 34 (Me. 2006). “2d 124, 125 (stating that trespass provision of 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (Supp.1998) should not have been applied retroactively).”
Darney Ex Rel. K.D. v. Dragon Prods. Co., 771 F. Supp. 2d 91 (D. Me. 2011). · cites it 4× “Count II (statutory trespass — 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B) 5. Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim for statutory trespass under 14 M.”
Lamson v. Cote, 2001 ME 109 (Me. 2001). “2000) (count III), and 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (Supp.2000) (count IV) as well as common law trespass damages (count V).”
Darney Ex Rel. K.D. v. Dragon Prods. Co., 640 F. Supp. 2d 117 (D. Me. 2009). “2d 823, 824 (1964); 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B(1). “The minimum intent necessary for the tort of trespass is simply acting for the purpose of being on the land or knowing to a substantial certainty that one’s act will result in physical presence on the land.”
Dalphonse v. St. Laurent & Son, Inc., 2007 ME 53 (Me. 2007). “Laurent arising from statutory trespass, 14 M.R.S. §§ 7551-B and/or 7552 (2006); common law trespass; and nuisance.”
Francis v. Dana-Cummings, 2004 ME 4 (Me. 2004). “14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (2003). 3 .14M.R.S.A.”
Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 48 A.3d 794 (Me. 2012). “§ 4682 (2011) (violations of constitutional rights: civil actions by aggrieved persons), 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B (2011) (trespass damages), 33 M.”
Show all 44 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(1) — 4 cases
Susan C. Harvey v. Addison H. Furrow Jr., 2014 ME 149 (Me. 2014). “The court entered judgment in favor of Furrow and Lane on each of the remaining claims, including Harvey’s claim for statutory trespass damages pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B (2013). The court, acknowledging that it was doubtful that any justiciable claims remained, also stated…”
Mark W. Ogden v. Joedy Labonville, 2020 ME 133 (Me. 2020). “Labonville did not specify in her counterclaim the statutory provision upon which she grounded her trespass claim—14 M.R.S. § 7551-B (2020) or 14 M.R.S. § 7552 (2020)—but the trial court concluded that she had failed to present a prima facie case under either standard.”
Darney Ex Rel. K.D. v. Dragon Prods. Co., 640 F. Supp. 2d 117 (D. Me. 2009). “2d 823, 824 (1964); 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B(1). “The minimum intent necessary for the tort of trespass is simply acting for the purpose of being on the land or knowing to a substantial certainty that one’s act will result in physical presence on the land.”
Huffard v. Hirshon (Me. Super. Ct 2009).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(1)(2008) — 1 case
Harris v. The Woodlands Club (Me. Super. Ct 2009).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(1)(A) — 2 cases
Darney Ex Rel. K.D. v. Dragon Prods. Co., 771 F. Supp. 2d 91 (D. Me. 2011). “Count II (statutory trespass — 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B) 5. Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim for statutory trespass under 14 M.”
Post v. Gale (Me. Super. Ct 2008).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(1)(B) — 1 case
Darney Ex Rel. K.D. v. Dragon Prods. Co., 771 F. Supp. 2d 91 (D. Me. 2011). “Count II (statutory trespass — 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B) 5. Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim for statutory trespass under 14 M.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(2) — 4 cases
Kapler v. Kapler, 2000 ME 131 (Me. 2000). “14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (Supp.1999). Section 7552 states in pertinent part: 2.”
Harris v. The Woodlands Club (Me. Super. Ct 2009).
King v. Welch (Me. Super. Ct 2020).
Kapler v. McKay (Me. Super. Ct 2000).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(3)(C) — 2 cases
Raymond v. Lyden, 1999 ME 59 (Me. 1999). “) on the plaintiffs’ 1 action for trespass pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 7551-B (Supp.1998). 2 In addition, the Lydens appeal from the judgments dismissing their counterclaim for slander of title, granting the plaintiffs’ motion to retain the case on the docket, and awarding counsel…”
Post v. Gale (Me. Super. Ct 2008).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(4) — 1 case
Harris v. The Woodlands Club (Me. Super. Ct 2009).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(5) — 1 case
Harris v. The Woodlands Club (Me. Super. Ct 2009).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7551-B(l) — 2 cases
Appletree Cottage, LLC v. Bond (Me. Super. Ct 2017).
Mchatten v. Hafford (Me. Super. Ct 2020).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.