PVSC One-Day In-Person Presentation: Thursday Nov. 9, 2023 Oral arguments with Justice Andrew Mead

Location: Penobscot Judicial Center, 78 Exchange St, Bangor, ME
Time: Meet at the Judicial Center by 9:40 AM

  Honorable Andrew M. Mead is the Senior Associate Justice, Maine Supreme Judicial Court

Case 1: 10:00 AM: 155 Spring Street LLC v. Eric Buggelyn
Summary: An individual rented a commercial building in Lewiston and installed heat pumps which could only be removed after a "walk-through" and inspection by the landlord. The renter started removing the heat pumps but prohibited the landlord from inspecting the premises. The landlord obtained a restraining order preventing the removal and the renter appeals despite the fact that the case has not been completed in the Superior Court.

Case 2: 10:50 AM: Dupuis, et al., v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland
Summary: The Diocese challenges legislation that extended the statute of limitations for claims arising from alleged child sexual abuse by clergy. 

Dupuis v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland:  In this case the Plaintiff, Mr. Dupuis, is suing the Bishop, alleging that one of its employees sexually assaulted him more than 60 years ago.  The statute of limitations initially ran in or before 1975, and Mr. Dupuis did not bring any claims before then.  However, in 2021, the Legislature passed a law eliminating the statute of limitations for all claims based on sexual abuse of a child, and made the law retroactive, which meant that claims that had been previously barred, like Mr. Dupuis's, could be brought.  The Bishop argues that the law violates the Due Process Clause of the Maine Constitution, and also argues that it only applies to claims against individuals who commit sexual abuse of a child, not claims against institutions or organizations.