An Act To Require a Referee of a Land Dispute To Render a Decision within One Year
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0527
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: SA VIELLO, GOOLEY, AYOTTE, GIFFORD, HANLEY, JOY, THIBODEAU, JACKSON
Amends: 4 MRSA §501

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th'MAINE LEGISLATURE 
FIRST REGULAR SESSI01~-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 527 
H.P, 372 
House of Represenlatives, Febmary 12, 2009 
An Act To Require a Referee of a Land Dispute To Render a 
Decision within One Year 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
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Presented by Representative SA VIELLO of Wilton. 
Cosponsored by Senator GOOLEY of Franklin and 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
, 
Clerk 
Representatives: AYOTTE of Caswell, CRA Y of Palmyra, GIFFORD of Lincoln, HANLEY of 
Gardiner, JOY of Crystal, McFADDEN of Dem1Ysville, THIBODEAU of Winterport, Senator: 
,JACKSON of Aroostook. 
Prinlt:d on recycled pnper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §501, as amended by PL 1977, c. 114, §§10 to 12, is further 
amended to read: . 
§501. Appointment; fees 
In all cases in the Supreme Judicial or in the Superior Court in which the court 
appoints one or more persons, not exceeding 3, as referees, masters or auditors, to hear 
the same, their fees and necessary expenses, including stenographic services as 
determined by the Chief Justice or hl5 the ChiefJustice's designee, 5haU must be paid by 
the State on presentation of the proper certificate of the clerk of courts for the county in 
which such case is pending, or by such of the parties, or out of any fund or subject matter 
of the action, which is in the custody and control of the court, or by apportionment among 
such sources of payinent, as the court 5haU may direct. The amount thereof 5haU must be 
fixed by the court upon the coming in of the report. These referees, masters and auditors 
shall notify the parties of the time and place of hearing and 5haU have pow~r to adjourn . 
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Witnesses may be summoned and compelled to attend and may be sworn by the referees, 
masters or auditors. When there is more than one referee, master or auditor, all must hear, 
but a majority may report, stating whether all did hear. Their report maybe recommitted. 
They may be discharged and others appointed. 
. 
No fee or compensation other ~han hls necessary expenses 5haU may be paid any 
Justice of the Supreme Judicial or of the Superior Court· for hls services as referee, master 
or auditor, but this provision 5haU does not apply to an Active Retired Justice. 
No per diem fee, other than necessary expenses, 5haU may be paid any Official Court 
Reporter for hls services in these cases. 
A referee appointed to hear a dispute concerning real property must report the 
referee's decision within one year of appointment by the court. 
Sec. 2. 14 MRSA §-t1S3 is amended to read: 
§1153. Authority of referees 
All the ref~reesmust meet and hear the parties; but a majority may make the report, 
which shall be is as valid as if signed by all, if it appears by the report or certificate of the 
dissenting referee that all attended and heard the parties. They may allow costs or not to 
either party, unless special provision is made therefor in the ·subrnission, but the court 
may reduce their corripensation. Any referee may swear witnesses; 
. 
A referee appointed to hear a dispute concerning real property must report the 
referee's decision within one year of appointment by the court. 
. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that a referee appointed by the court to hear a dispute involving real 
property must report the referee's decision within one year of appointment. 
Page I - 124LR0862(OI)-1 
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