Opinion ID: 2362019
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Land Measurement

Text: [¶ 23] In the action for adverse possession brought by Lewis against MCA, the Superior Court declared the common boundary between MCA and Lewis to be closer to MCA's building than MCA previously believed. The court's decision was based on Lewis's adverse possession of what was a portion of MCA's land for a period of twenty years or more. In measuring the extent of MCA's nonconformity to the setback requirements, the CEO measured the setback from the boundary as it existed prior to Lewis's acquisition of title by adverse possession. That measurement was improper. [¶ 24] Title vests in the adverse possessor by operation of law at the end of the adverse possession period. Colquhoun v. Webber, 684 A.2d 405, 410 (Me.1996). Even though the final judgment determining the location of the new boundary is issued by the court at a later time, as it was in early 1998, the twenty-year period entitling Lewis to the property was reached in 1992. See id. Accordingly, Lewis was the true owner of the land up to the newly declared boundary at the time the first permit was issued, and any measurements to determine setbacks, pursuant to the zoning ordinance, must be made from that newly declared boundary. [10]