Opinion ID: 1910245
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Trust's Counterclaim for Trespass and Nuisance

Text: [¶ 19] In addition, we conclude that the trial court's judgment rejecting the Trust's counterclaims for trespass and nuisance is premature. The trial court, in its final order, effectively denied the Trust's motion for a partial summary judgment on its trespass and nuisance counterclaims, providing that [NSS's] activities did not amount to trespass and nuisance and that such a determination resolve[s] all issues concerning counts II and III. We do not agree. [¶ 20] The record in this case reflects several disputed genuine issues of material fact regarding NSS's activities on Third Beach in light of the scope of their deeded easement rights. NSS admits some of the Trust's allegations, such as the grounding of boats on the beach and the peaceful protest of a volleyball game, while contesting others such as its part in the litter and campfire remnants on the beach. Given this disputed factual record, the trial court acted appropriately in denying the Trust's motion for a partial summary judgment on the issue of NSS's liability for trespass and nuisance. [¶ 21] The trial court erred, however, in finding that its denial of the Trust's partial summary judgment motion resolved the issue of NSS's liability for trespass and nuisance. The trial court's findings were made in light of the list of rights incidental or necessary to the easement fashioned by the court. As we indicated earlier, the existence of rights incidental to an easement is a question of fact, and the trial court erred in seeking to create an exhaustive list of incidental rights as a matter of law. Notwithstanding, it is well settled that a denial of a motion for summary judgment on substantive legal arguments is an interlocutory order. U.S. Dep't of Agric., Rural Hous. Serv. v. Carter, 2002 ME 103, ¶¶ 7-13, 799 A.2d 1232, 1234-36; see also Alexander, Maine Appellate Practice § 303(g) at 167 (2005). Rather than finally resolve these issues as a matter of law on a motion for summary judgment, the trial court should have denied the Trust's motion and ordered an evidentiary hearing on its counterclaims for trespass and nuisance. The entry is: Judgment granting the Trust's motion for summary judgment of NSS's complaint is affirmed. Final judgment on the Trust's motions for summary judgment on the Trust's counterclaims is vacated and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.