Opinion ID: 2074105
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Damages for Reclamation

Text: [¶ 19] The Dalphonses also argue that, because Courbron relied on the cost-free use of St. Laurent's gravel in reaching his estimates, the court's award of damages based on those estimates was too low to cover the cost of the court-ordered reclamation. [¶ 20] Although in general, we will not disturb the fact-finder's award of damages, we will vacate an award if the fact-finder found damages in disregard of the facts. Carter v. Williams, 2002 ME 50, ¶ 27, 792 A.2d 1093, 1100. [¶ 21] Here, the court compensated the Dalphonses for the land they lost and awarded them the cost of labor for reclamation. The court did not award damages, however, to cover the additional cost of the fill necessary to restore the Dalphonses' land to their boundary line with a 2-to-1 slope running from that line to the St. Laurent gravel pit floor. Although the absence of an award of damages to cover the cost of fill appears to have been inadvertent, it does result in inadequate damages for the completion of the court-ordered reclamation project. Accordingly, we vacate the court's award of damages for the reclamation and remand the matter for the court to recalculate these damages. [5] The court may also consider whether the passage of time has altered the cost of reclamation. [¶ 22] We do not disturb the court's award of other categories of damages for nuisance, trespass, or the cost of professional services already rendered. Nor do we disturb the terms of the reclamation plan described by the court in its judgment. On remand, the court should allow the introduction of evidence regarding only the cost of additional fill necessary to execute the reclamation and any additional damages incurred after the August 2003 trial. The entry is: Denial of motion to reopen the record vacated. Award of damages for reclamation vacated. In all other aspects, the judgment is affirmed. Remanded for further proceedings solely to determine damages for the cost of the additional fill necessary to complete reclamation as described in the court's judgment and to assess whether to award any additional damages incurred since trial as requested in the motion to reopen.