Maine Landowners to Argue Property Damages Appeal

Landowners will seek $884,000 in legal costs from a past development dispute in a November 2026 court appearance.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Organic Food

Maine Landowners to Argue Property Damages Appeal

Live Poll

Should courts award damages to property owners when business projects interfere with their land titles?

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will hear oral arguments on November 5, 2026, regarding a damages appeal in a long-standing property dispute. Maine landowners are seeking $884,000 in costs related to a legal battle involving a proposed salmon farm site in Belfast.

Why it matters

This appeal centers on whether Maine property owners can recover legal and surveyor fees after successfully defending their title against a development proposal. The outcome clarifies the legal burden of proof required to demonstrate slander of title when developers record disputed land deeds.

Plaintiffs are seeking $884,000 in damages and legal costs following a lower court ruling that denied these fees. Whether these costs can be recouped remains the central question before the court, as current state law requires proof of malice to establish slander of title.

The players

Jeffrey Mabee

A Maine landowner who challenged the validity of property deeds linked to a commercial salmon farm project.

Judith Grace

A Maine landowner who successfully asserted ownership of intertidal property contested in a land development dispute.

Nordic Aquafarms

An aquaculture company that proposed a large-scale land-based salmon farm in Belfast before vacating the site in 2025.

Michael Duddy

A Business and Consumer Court judge who ruled that the developer acted in good faith during the land dispute.

The details

The dispute involves the legal status of intertidal land in Belfast, which was the planned site for a $500 million land-based salmon farm. While the Law Court previously ruled in February 2023 that Jeffrey Mabee and Judith Grace are the exclusive owners of the land, the lower court later found that the developer, Nordic Aquafarms, acted in good faith when recording the initial deeds. Consequently, the plaintiffs must now demonstrate that the company acted with malice to succeed in their slander of title claim.

1796: Circa date of the Belfast property
1991: Mabee and Grace acquired the Belfast property
January 2017: Mabee and Grace listed their home for sale
February 2023: Court ruled Mabee and Grace own the intertidal land
November 5, 2026: Oral arguments for the damages appeal begin

Health Landscape

This case follows the precedent set by the 2023 Law Court intertidal land ruling to resolve the remaining financial obligations of the property dispute. The outcome will define the standards for title-related litigation in land-use conflicts across the state.

This case highlights the importance of clarifying property boundaries and ownership documentation for rural landowners in the state. If you are managing land that neighbors potential commercial development, it is worth discussing potential legal protections and deed accuracy with your attorney.

The takeaway

The court will soon decide if developers must pay legal costs when property titles are challenged but found to be made in good faith. Property owners should ensure their deeds are current and consult with a legal professional to document any boundary concerns before development begins.