Opinion ID: 2361186
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Payment of Back Rent

Text: [¶ 6] William contends that the court erred by determining both the period for which he owes back rent to Raymond as well as the amount of rent due per month. We do not set aside a court's findings of fact unless they are clearly erroneousthat is, we do so only when there is no competent evidence in the record to support the finding or the finding is based on a clear misapprehension of the meaning of the evidence. H.E. Sargent, Inc. v. Town of Wells, 676 A.2d 920, 923 (Me. 1996). [¶ 7] The court did not err in either aspect of its determination that William owed $8,000 in back rent to Raymond. The court determined this figure, which covers rent for the period from April 1, 1995, to August 1, 1996, on the basis that as of April 1995 the parties' relationship became adversarial and William was no longer living in Raymond's home with the latter's permission, and because possession was granted to Raymond in August 1996. Raymond was entitled to receive rent for his property for the period that William enjoyed exclusive possession of it that is, for the 16 months following April 1995, [2] when William changed the locks on the mobile home and forbade Raymond entry, and Raymond asked him to leave. During that time William operated a business on the premises, and thereby deprived Raymond of its combined residential and commercial rental value. When Raymond attempted to list the property for sale, William refused to allow the agent to post signs on the property. [¶ 8] As for the court's determination of the amount of rent due per month, Raymond's testimony as to the purchase price ($42,000 in 1992) and fair market rental value ($500) of the property, as used for both residential and commercial purposes, was sufficient for the court to set the rental value at $500. Ferrell v. Cox, 617 A.2d 1003, 1007 (Me.1992) (by reason of ownership alone, property owners may testify as to their opinion of their property's fair market value); M.R. Evid. 701. Moreover, despite Raymond's assertion of the $500 rental value in his complaint, William did not present evidence at the trial to refute that figure. See 617 A.2d at 1007. The entry is: Judgment on claim of Raymond Landry, Sr. affirmed. Judgment on counterclaim of William Landry, Sr. vacated. Remanded for further proceedings consistent with the opinion herein.