Opinion ID: 2159898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: presumption of adversity and presumption of permission

Text: [¶ 35] In order to prove the element of claim of right adverse to the owner, the claimant asserting a prescriptive easement to a way must prove lack of permission from the owner and use of the way by the claimant as though the claimant owned the property himself. S.D. Warren Co. v. Vernon, 1997 ME 161, ¶ 11, 697 A.2d 1280, 1283; Blanchard v. Moulton, 63 Me. 434, 437 (1873). Proof of adverse use is facilitated by a presumption of adversity that arises when the other elements of a prescriptive easement are met: [T]he ordinary rule is that, where there has been an unmolested, open, and continuous use of a way for twenty years or more with the knowledge and acquiescence of the owner of the servient estate, the use will be presumed to have been adverse and under a claim of right, and sufficient to create a title by prescription, unless contradicted or explained. Burnham v. Burnham, 130 Me. 409, 411, 156 A. 823, 824 (1931) (citing Thompson v. Bowes, 115 Me. 6, 9-10, 97 A. 1, 2 (1916)); accord, e.g., Blackmer v. Williams, 437 A.2d 858, 862 (Me.1981). When the presumption applies, the burden shifts to the landowner to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the use was not adverse. M.R. Evid. 301(a). This means that in most cases permission becomes the defense to a prescriptive easement claim. [7] Glidden, 684 A.2d at 1318 n. 21. The presumption of adversity applies whether the prescriptive easement is sought in favor of private individuals or the general public. See Stickney v. City of Saco, 2001 ME 69, ¶¶ 21-22, 770 A.2d 592, 602. [¶ 36] The presumption of adversity, however, is not applicable to the use of wild and uncultivated land, which under our existing law is presumed to be permissive. Eaton v. Town of Wells, 2000 ME 176, ¶ 32, 760 A.2d 232, 244; S.D. Warren Co., 1997 ME 161, ¶ 16, 697 A.2d at 1284; Town of Manchester v. Augusta Country Club, 477 A.2d 1124, 1130 (Me.1984). The effect of the presumption of permission is to negate the presumption of adversity, so that the claimant of a prescriptive easement has the burden to prove that the use was adverse to the landowner. The Baptist School's entire argument on appeal is that its land is wild and uncultivated, that the burden to prove adversity was on the plaintiffs, and that as a matter of law they did not meet that burden.