Justia Maine Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Petitioner filed a petition in the superior court challenging a disciplinary decision by the Department of Corrections. The superior court dismissed the petition, concluding that Petitioner failed to state a claim where the court could not “determine its jurisdiction in the absence of its determination of the date of the final agency action.” Petitioner later filed a motion pursuant to Me. R. Civ. P. 60(b) to set aside the order dismissing his petition. The superior court denied the Rule 60(b) motion. The Supreme Judicial Court vacated the judgment, holding that the superior court erred in dismissing the petition for lack of jurisdiction because the court improperly required that the petition include content not statutorily required and presumed a lack of jurisdiction without a basis to do so. Remanded. View "Mutty v. Department of Corrections" on Justia Law

After a public hearing, the Town of Stockton Spring’s Board of Selectman determined that a structure owned by Hollie Beal was a dangerous building or nuisance pursuant to Me. Rev. Stat. 17, 2851. The superior court affirmed the decision of the Board. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding (1) Beal’s contention that the Board violated her due process rights when it allegedly denied her the opportunity to be heard, to cross-examine witnesses, and to have an impartial fact-finder was unavailing; and (2) there was substantial evidence in the record to support the Board’s findings. View "Beal v. Town of Stockton Springs" on Justia Law

Steven L., who suffered from a severe and persistent mental illness, was twice involuntarily admitted to a progressive treatment program for a period of one year. In 2015, a psychiatric hospital operated by the Department of Health and Human Services applied to the district court for a twelve-month extension of the progressive treatment program order. The district court granted the motion and ordered the extension. The superior court affirmed. Steven then appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court. The Court affirmed, holding that the trial record supported the court’s findings by clear and convincing evidence. View "In re Steven L." on Justia Law

Defendant entered a conditional guilty plea to a charge of unlawful possession of schedule W drugs, preserving his right to appeal from the denial of his motion to suppress. Defendant appealed, arguing that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence of drugs that he was carrying in a body cavity because law enforcement officers exceeded the authority granted them by two search warrants explicitly authorizing a search of Defendant’s person. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that, under the facts of this case, the trial court did not err in denying the motion to suppress. View "State v. Cooper" on Justia Law

21 Seabran, LLC applied for two permits necessary to renovate a garage on a lakefront parcel. The Town of Naples Code Enforcement Officer denied the permits, concluding that the parcel would have insufficient shore frontage to comply with state and local law. The Town of Naples Board of Appeals denied 21 Seabran’s appeal, concluding that the proposed renovation would add to the parcel a second “residential dwelling unit” for purposes of the Town of Naples Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, which would render the parcel noncompliant. The superior court affirmed. The Supreme Judicial Court vacated the judgment, holding (1) the Board’s determination that the proposed structure was a residential dwelling unit was erroneous; and (2) the Board’s conclusion that the parcel failed to comply with the minimum lot size law and rules was erroneous. View "21 Seabran, LLC v. Town of Naples" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of, inter alia, intentional or knowing, or depraved indifference murder. The trial court sentenced Defendant to twenty-five years in prison for murder and ten years in prison for hindering apprehension or prosecution, to be served concurrently with the murder sentence. Defendant appealed, arguing that the judgment should be vacated because he was deprived of a fair trial due to the alleged perjured testimony from certain witnesses. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding that Defendant failed to demonstrate that he was deprived of a fair trial. View "State v. True" on Justia Law

In 2014, Emma’s son successfully petitioned to be appointed as the new conservator of Emma’s estate. Thereafter, the son filed an amended inventory of the estate’s assets. In 2014, Emma’s son, as conservator, moved to have financial details regarding the value of the estate removed from the publicly available docket in the case. The probate court denied the motion. The son filed a motion to reconsider and to amend the judgment. While the court had the matter under consideration, the conservator filed a request for the financial information to be removed from the public docket as an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The probate court then certified a question to the Supreme Judicial Court. The Court discharged the reported question, holding that the question could not be answered consistent with the Court’s basic function as an appellate court and instead sought an advisory opinion on an issue that may be rendered moot by subsequent decision-making. View "In re Conservatorship of Emma" on Justia Law

Philip Barnard was significantly injured when a deck attached to an apartment owed by William Condon collapsed while Barnard was standing on it. Barnard and his wife, Jaime Wilson, filed a complaint against Condon, alleging negligence and seeking damages for, among other things, Wilson’s loss of consortium. Barnard and Wilson divorced during the pendency of the lawsuit. After a trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of Barnard on his complaint but awarded no damages on Wilson’s derivative claim for loss of consortium. Wilson appealed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the superior court did not err in denying Wilson’s motion for additur or a new trial on the grounds that the jury’s verdict was manifestly inadequate and internally inconsistent because Wilson failed to meet her burden of demonstrating any of the available grounds for overturning the jury’s verdict. View "Wilson v. Condon" on Justia Law

In 2004, Jason Begin was committed to the custody of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services based upon a finding that he was not criminally responsible for certain crimes by reason of insanity. In 2015, Begin filed a petition requesting a hearing on his fitness for release and return to permanent residency in the community. The superior court denied Begin’s request for release. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding that the trial court was not compelled to find in Begin’s favor on his petition for release. View "State v. Begin" on Justia Law

The district court issued a warrant authorizing officers to search Defendant’s residence. The search resulted in the seizure of container of “Molotov cocktails” and a handgun. Defendant moved to suppress the evidence arguing that the search warrant was tainted by an unlawful initial search relying on an affidavit that failed to supply probable cause that evidence of illegal drug activity would be found at the property. The superior court denied the motion to suppress. Pursuant to a conditional guilty plea, Defendant was convicted of one count of arson and two counts of criminal threatening. Defendant appealed the denial of his motion to suppress, arguing that, because it was objectively unreasonable for an officer to believe the search warrant established probable cause, the court erred in applying the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the issuing judge had a substantial basis to find probable cause for the warrant to issue. View "State v. Nunez" on Justia Law