On July 6, 2025, the Maine Arbitration Board made a historic ruling in a long-standing land dispute case between two neighboring property owners. The case, which has been ongoing for over five years, involved a disagreement over the boundary line between the two properties.The dispute arose when one property owner, John Smith, claimed that the boundary line had been incorrectly marked and that a portion of his land had been encroached upon by his neighbor, Jane Doe. Doe, in turn, argued that her property had been in the family for generations and that the boundary line had always been where it was currently marked.After numerous mediation sessions failed to resolve the issue, both parties agreed to submit the case to the Maine Arbitration Board for a final decision. The board, comprised of three independent arbitrators, carefully reviewed all evidence presented by both parties, including property surveys, historical records, and expert testimonies.After several weeks of deliberation, the board unanimously ruled in favor of John Smith, determining that the current boundary line was indeed incorrect and that a portion of his land had been unlawfully encroached upon by Jane Doe's property. As a result, Doe was ordered to remove any structures or landscaping that encroached onto Smith's land and to pay him restitution for the damages incurred.The ruling was met with mixed reactions from both parties, with Smith expressing relief and satisfaction at finally receiving justice, while Doe expressed disappointment and frustration at having to give up a portion of her family's land.The Maine Arbitration Board's decision sets a precedent for future land dispute cases in the state and reinforces the importance of utilizing arbitration as a means of resolving conflicts outside of the courtroom. The board's thorough and impartial review of the evidence ultimately led to a fair and just resolution in a case that had long been a source of contention between two neighbors.