Opinion ID: 4531802
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Offsetting Claims

Text: [¶10] The commercial forcible entry and detainer statute further provides that, “[i]n addition to deciding the right of possession, the District Court shall also decide the amount of rent owed, if disputed. In establishing the 7 amount of rent owed, the District Court may consider offsetting claims to the extent appropriate.” Id. § 6017(2)(A) (emphasis added). Ocean State contends that a claim for attorney fees under a lease is an “offsetting claim” when the tenant prevails. [¶11] “Offset” is defined as “to balance, complement, counteract, compensate for, etc.” Offset, Webster’s New World College Dictionary (5th ed. 2016); see also Offset, Black’s Law Dictionary (defining “offset” as “[t]o balance or calculate against; to compensate for”). If the tenant prevails and no rent or arrears are owed, there is nothing to “offset.” [¶12] In sum, the forcible entry and detainer action is a summary proceeding, narrowly defined by statute and constrained by rules of court. Section 6017 authorizes only a narrow category of claims outside possession to be pursued in the action. Under the plain language of section 6017, a contract claim for attorney fees not incurred until and through the litigation does not fall into this category. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. 8 Seth W. Brewster, Esq. (orally), Ryan P. Dumais, Esq., and Micah A. Smart, Esq., Eaton Peabody, Portland, for appellant Ocean State Job Lot of Maine 2017, LLC Eben M. Albert, Esq., Glenn Israel, Esq. (orally), and David A. Soley, Esq., Bernstein Shur, Portland, for appellees 20 Thames Street LLC and 122 PTIP LLC Cumberland County Superior Court docket number AP-2018-47 FOR CLERK REFERENCE ONLY