Lafortune v. City of Biddeford

STATE OF MAINE SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL ACTION YORK, ss. DOCKET NO. AP-02-036 DOROTHY LAFORTUNE, Plaintiff Vv. ORDER CITY OF BIDDEFORD, et al., Defendants FEB « Following hearing: 1. Ms. Lafortune’s Motion to Recuse is Denied. 2. Action on Ms. Lafortune’s Motion for Change of Venue is deferred. 3. Ms. Lafortune’s Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order against Mr. Ly is Denied. 4. The City’s Motion to Dismiss will be scheduled by the Clerk for hearing. Mr. Ly’s Motion to Dismiss Generally, Ms. Lafortune claims that the City failed to follow proper statutory procedure when it took title to her property at 22 Graham Street, Biddeford, for failure to pay real estate taxes. In May, 2002, the City sold this property to Mr. Ly. Thereafter, Ms. Lafortune filed this complaint challenging the validity of both the tax taking and the sale. As the ostensible title owner of this property, Mr. Ly was clearly a necessary party to this case. While this case was pending, Mr. Ly brought a Forcible Entry and Detainer action in the District Court seeking a determination that he was entitled to possession of the property. In her response in the District Court, Ms. Lafortune raised the defense of superior title claiming that the City failed to follow the proper statutory procedure. Once Mr. Ly prevailed in both the District and Superior Courts, Ms. Lafortune appealed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, which denied her appeal on October 14, 2003. Ly v. Lafortune, 2003 Me. 119 . The Supreme Court decision in Ly v. Lafortune, supra, finally and conclusively determines that Mr. Ly is the legal titleholder of the property and that Ms. Lafortune’s rights to the property have been extinguished. Thus, Mr. Ly’s Motion to Dismiss is Granted and all claims against him in this action are dismissed. The Clerk may incorporate this order on the docket by reference. ( / Arthdr Brennan Jastice, Superior Court Dated: January 29, 2004 Dorothy Lafortune — PL - pro se Harry B. Center, II, Esq. -— Def. City of Biddeford Craig J. Rancourt, Esq. - Party-in-Interest Rohert M. Ruel Jens-Peter W. Bergen, Esq. - Party-in~Interest Tim Q. Ly William $. Kany, Esq. - Party-in-Interest Saco Biddeford Savings Institution