Estate of Stone v. Hanson

CLIFFORD, Justice.

This case, involving a dispute over the title to an island in Cathance Lake in the town of Cooper, comes to us on report. See M.R.Civ.P. 72(b). We are asked to construe 14 M.R.S.A. § 816 (1980), 1 govern ing adverse possession of uncultivated lands. Specifically, the issue posed by the report is whether a deed from the adverse possessor himself, in a straw transaction, can constitute the “recorded deed” under which title is claimed, or whether there is an additional element of good faith that must accompany the recorded deed. We conclude that in the circumstances of this…