# 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B: 14 §7551-B. Trespass damages

> Maine · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7551-B

## Section

- **Citation:** 14 M.R.S. § 7551-B
- **Heading:** 14 §7551-B. Trespass damages
- **Jurisdiction:** Maine
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** ME Code / Title 14 / Part 7 / Chapter 739 / Section 7551-B

## Text

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).]

## Nearby sections

- [14 M.R.S. § 7501 14 §7501. Remedy if tenant commits waste](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7501.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7502 14 §7502. Damages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7502.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7503 14 §7503. Action by remainderman or reversioner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7503.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7504 14 §7504. Death of tenant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7504.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7505 14 §7505. No waste by part owner without notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7505.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7506 14 §7506. Single damages only](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7506.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7507 14 §7507. Injunctions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7507.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7551 14 §7551. Treble damages for waste pending action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7551.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7551-B 14 §7551-B. Trespass damages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7551-B.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7552 14 §7552. Injury to land, forest products or agricultural products](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7552.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7552-A 14 §7552-A. Land on which 10 acres or more of wood is to be cut](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7552-A.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7554-A 14 §7554-A. Removal or destruction of landmark boundaries by state departments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7554-A.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7556 14 §7556. Salt water islands](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7556.md)
- [14 M.R.S. § 7557 14 §7557. Notices; injury to signboards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7557.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T14_P7_C739_S7551-B. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.