Portland Water District v. Town of Standish

[¶ 1] In this appeal, we are called upon to answer two questions: (1) does the common law doctrine of nullum tempus occurrit regí, “time does not run against the king,” apply in Maine to prohibit the taking of government owned land by adverse possession or prescriptive easement; and if so, (2) is the quasi-municipal special purpose Portland Water District a governmental entity for the purpose of applying the nullum tempus doctrine. We agree with the trial court (Cumberland County, Humphrey, C.J.) and answer both questions in the affirmative. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment in which the…