Provencher v. Buzzell-Plourde Associates

The plaintiff, Arthur Provencher, appeals an order of the Superior Court (Hampsey, J.) granting the defendants’ motions to dismiss. The superior court ruled that the doctrine of absolute witness immunity extends to the defendants’ pre-litigation appraisals of the plaintiff’s property. We affirm.

The plaintiff owned approximately 165 acres of land in Hudson, commonly known as Benson’s Wild Animal Farm. On March 20, 1992, the plaintiff and the State negotiated a purchase and sale agreement (agreement) for the property. The department of transportation wished to purchase the property for a…