Opinion ID: 1926517
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: maine condominium act warranty claims

Text: [¶ 7] The Maine Condominium Act provides that one selling a condominium unit makes certain implied warranties of quality to the purchaser. See 33 M.R.S.A. § 1604-113 (1999). [7] The Act also provides its own statute of limitations for these warranties. See id. § 1604-115. [8] Section 1604-115(b) provides a six-year limitations period that runs from accrual regardless of the purchaser's lack of knowledge of the breach. In the case of a warranty relating to a condominium unit, the action accrues at the time the purchaser to whom the warranty is first made enters into possession if a possessory interest was conveyed.... Id. § 1604-115(b)(1). In the case of a warranty related to a common element, the action accrues at the time the common element is completed or, if later ... at the time the first unit ... is conveyed to a bona fide purchaser. Id. § 1604-115(b)(2). [¶ 8] Dunelawn challenges the application of the Act's statute of limitations to the Caffrays's individual claims on the basis that there is no evidence of when Plaintiffs Janice and Sophia Caffray took possession of Unit 20. The Caffrays' 7(d) statements [9] state that they purchased the unit in November 1985, more than fourteen years ago, and that they have continuously owned Unit 20 ... since its purchase and never experienced any electrical problems until approximately two months before the fire. Thus, Dunelawn's contention that application of the Act's statute of limitations would be erroneous based on an absence of proof of when the Caffrays took possession of the unit fails. Because the Caffrays were in possession of unit 20 in 1985, their Maine Condominium Act implied warranty claim is barred by that Act's statute of limitations. [¶ 9] Gendreau argues that all of Dunelawn's claims should be barred by section 1604-115 because Dunelawn should not be permitted to simply relabel their claims to obfuscate the clear legislative intent to provide a six year statute of limitations. Section 1604-115(a) provides, [a] judicial proceeding for breach of any obligation arising under section 1604-112 [10] or 1604-113 must be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues. By its own terms, the Maine Condominium Act's statute of limitations applies only to warranties created by the Act. Because the plain language of the statute resolves the issue, we will not attempt to infer a contrary legislative intent. See Merrill v. Sugarloaf Mountain Corp., 2000 ME 16, ¶ 11, 745 A.2d 378, 384.