Maine
Contentious Belfast family lobster pound lawsuit makes it to Maine high court
On the day before he died, Robert R. Young appeared to have made a dramatic change to his will.
A handwritten note, labeled as a last will and testament, said the 82-year-old widower wanted to auction off his family’s seafood restaurant in Belfast and donate the proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
His son Bob later told a court he had seen the document and talked to his father on that day in 2017.
The new will would have meant disinheriting Young’s other son, Raymond, who had been set to keep Young’s Lobster Pound and Seafood Restaurant under their father’s first will. That original document, which was prepared by an attorney and notarized in 2000, also matched their mother’s will. She died a couple of months before their father.
Young’s three children have spent more than eight years in two different courts, debating the legitimacy of that 2017 document. A superior court judge ended Raymond Young’s lawsuit against his siblings in 2022, finding he failed to prove his claims that they had coerced their father into disinheriting him. Then in 2025, a probate judge sided with Raymond Young, ruling that the handwritten document could not be considered their father’s final will and testament.
Now, Maine’s highest court will weigh in on the future of Robert Young’s estate and restaurant. Oral arguments are scheduled for Thursday.
Bob Young and his sister, Dianne Parker, argue that the case highlights a question about jurisdictional boundaries — why argue something in superior court if it can be revived in probate court?
The process and outcome, their attorney F. David Walker wrote in court records, “offends nearly every stated goal of our judicial system, including finality, economy, comity and fairness.”
Walker did not respond to a request for comment, and Parker declined to discuss the case ahead of the high court’s decision. Bob Young did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Raymond Young’s attorney has argued that the probate judge’s ruling was distinct because that court holds “exclusive jurisdiction” over contested wills.
Waldo County Probate Judge Joanna Owen wrote in her order, which was appealed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, that there were several reasons to not consider the handwritten document as Robert Young’s final will, including the fact that his signature didn’t match how he had signed earlier documents, and that the new plans were a departure from those he had laid out in his earlier will.
Robert Young’s attorney and others who knew him testified that they had not been informed of any plans to sell his business, Owen wrote. She also noted that his children had described him “as a man who made clear his opinions and positions.”
“Nothing was lining up,” Raymond Young told a reporter on Tuesday.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
Before Sept. 30, 2017, the plan was for Raymond Young to take over the restaurant that he had managed for his father since 2000 and all of his father’s real estate, and for Parker to inherit their father’s banking accounts, according to court records. Stocks and bonds were to be divided between the two.
In the will drafted in 2000, Bob Young was left with $1 — he had been estranged from his father for many years before reconnecting after their mother’s death in July 2017 following a long illness, according to court records.
Claire and Robert Young had been married more than 60 years. Before Robert Young died on Oct. 1, 2017, he wrote at the end of a note that he “shall go and be with the love of my life into eternity, where I’ll belong.”
Bob Young has said he was there on Sept. 30, 2017, after his father wrote the new document. Their father appeared to demand that Raymond Young and his family be fired, the business be auctioned off, according to court records.
Owen also considered three other handwritten sheets, which appeared to be signed by Robert Young and were undated. In those, Robert Young left a $90,000 bond to Bob Young. Owens wrote that Robert Young had mentioned this plan to his attorney in August 2017, and her order states that Raymond Young did not oppose Bob Young receiving the bond.
According to Bob Young’s lawyer, Robert Young asked his son to take a picture of the document on his phone. Bob Young testified in court that his father told him he planned to bring the document to his lawyer that Monday.
Raymond Young and a friend found Robert Young’s body the following morning and called police. According to court records, Raymond Young testified that he had instructed the friend to hide a handwritten note found on a table so that his death “didn’t look like a suicide.”
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled in 2017 that Robert Young had died by suicide. In 2018, according to court records, his cause of death was amended to “undetermined” because no toxicological samples were taken before he was embalmed. A spokesperson for the state medical examiner’s office said on Wednesday that finding still stands.
Raymond Young, suspicious about the nature of his father’s death, asked both the superior and probate court judges to let him exhume his father’s body and investigate. Both requests were denied.
Raymond Young had alleged that his brother was responsible for his father’s death, or had a role in what happened. He said that his siblings, including his sister, “coerced or wrongfully influenced” their father into changing his estate plan to disinherit Raymond Young. Justice Robert Murray ruled that Raymond Young had presented no evidence of that.
“These were conspiracy theories,” Walker, the attorney for Bob Young and Dianne Parker, wrote in court records. “There is not now, and never has been, a scintilla of evidence supporting the claims.”
PROBATE RULING
Walker wrote in court records that his clients had been relieved after Murray’s ruling.
Murray also wrote in his 2022 order that certain issues were still left to the probate court — while Raymond Young hadn’t proven to him that he had “possessory right” over his father’s property, the probate petition he had filed in 2017, seeking to become executor of his father’s estate, was still pending.
The probate case was paused until after the superior court ruling, when Raymond Young began asking for some of the same things that Murray had denied.
Walker wrote in court records that his clients “believed that their ordeal was over” after Murray’s decision.
“The breadth and thoroughness of the Superior Court’s decision surely resolved and finally disposed of all claims Raymond had brought, or could have brought,” Walker wrote. “This relief, however, was short-lived.”
Owen, the probate judge, moved forward with a trial in August 2025 because she felt there were enough facts in dispute.
In her order, she focused on the handwritten document. Owen ruled that Raymond Young had not shown evidence that the handwritten note was fraudulent, but wrote that there was “ample evidence” that Bob Young had inflamed the situation by suggesting that his brother was planning to sell the lobster pound.
Even if it had been written exactly as Bob Young testified, Owen wrote, it could not be considered their father’s final will. According to the order, the testimony from Bob Young that their father told him that he planned to bring the document to his lawyer suggested Robert Young thought there was still work to be done to finalize the document.
She ruled that there was no evidence that Robert Young meant for it to be final.
Now, the appeal of Owen’s ruling will go before the state’s supreme court, which will take the issue under advisement after oral arguments.
IF YOU or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 911.
FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
FOR MORE SUPPORT, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email [email protected].
OTHER Maine resources for mental health, substance use disorder and other issues can be found by calling 211.
“THE TEXAS CAROL”
Don’t miss “The Texas Carol” set to be performed at various times July 16-25 at Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road in Madison.
The production by Jayme McGhan and Kevin Dean focuses on the Dinkel family as they head to Mee-Maw Jane’s East Texas ranch for what might be her last Christmas. The only problem? When the first two grandchildren arrive, they discover that Mee-Maw is already gone! Now how to keep that fact (and her body) from a family on the edge and salvage what remains of Christmas?
Starring Donna Irish, Shana Page, Will Stecher, Addie King, Caleb Landry, Quincy Morin, David Shedd and Earl Boyd.
Tickets cost $30-$52 for adults or $23 for children 4-17; lakewoodtheater.org.
Purchase this image
12/OC
Bowl in the Pines plans to host 12/OC at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 1 Geranium Lane in Sidney.
Born in a family kitchen in Portland, 12/OC began as a shared dream between brothers Will and Reid, 14 and 11 years old, cutting their teeth at jam sessions and open mic nights. Their sound quickly resonated beyond Maine, capturing the attention of country music fans near and far. With a chart-topping single holding the No. 1 spot on Maine’s premier country radio station for 16 consecutive weeks, their momentum became impossible to ignore.
Tickets cost $52.73-$84-61; bowlinthepines.com.
Alice Limoges & missofija
Stop in at The Playhouse at Waterville Station at 7 p.m. Saturday for an intimate double‑bill featuring two of Maine’s most compelling rising artists: Alice Limoges and missofija.
Limoges has been singing since before she could walk. Whether performing her award-winning poetic songs about love and nature, or shining a light on mental health, her canon is lit up by her storytelling, unique, soulful voice and textural instrumentals. She has released six original albums/EPs, toured festivals and colleges across North America, and performed on Jon Samson’s Grammy Award winning album. She placed in the 2021 International Songwriting Contest and won the 2025 Maine Songwriting Contest.
After writing her first song at 3 years old, missofija never looked back. Her unique sound is inspired by her background as an opera singer and by the folk songs of her Lithuanian upbringing. She uses profound, symbolic lyrics, intricate melodies and complex harmonic structures to send chills through every audience she performs for.
Tickets cost $20; theplayhouse.me.
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
Don’t miss the Let ‘Em Go Tour set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bowl in the Pines – Amphitheather 1 Geranium Lane, Sidney.
Perhaps the most recognizable ambassador for New Orleans music working today, Shorty has spent his entire life carrying the torch for Crescent City culture, and propelling it forward into the 21st century with his ecstatic live performances and intoxicating blend of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and Caribbean influences.
Born Troy Andrews, Shorty made his first appearance at New Orleans’ iconic Jazz Fest at 4 years old, when he took the stage for an impromptu performance with Bo Diddley. By 6, he was heading up his own brass band, and by his early 20s, he’d released the first in a string of albums that would lead to performances everywhere from the White House and the Grammy Awards to Madison Square Garden and the 2025 Super Bowl.
Tickets cost $63-$120; bowlinthepines.com.
THE PRINCESS CONCERT
Check out The Princess Concert set for 3:30 and again at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St. in Waterville.
The performance will pay tribute to the iconic, heartwarming, and nostalgic songs from films including “Frozen,” “Wicked,” “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” “Moana,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Beauty & The Beast,” “Anastasia,” “Pocahontas,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and more.
Tickets cost $30-$67 for ages 16-plus; operahouse.org.
BLACK WOLF BAND
Waterfront Wednesday plans to host Black Wolf Band at 6 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Augusta.
The weekly Waterfront Wednesday events scheduled through Aug. 5 will feature free music, food and family fun returning to the Kennebec River.
Each week, concertgoers can bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for live music from local bands and DJs. There will be a food truck at every event.
For more information visit mainstreetmaine.org.
Looking for more? Check out the online calendar listings for other entertainment offerings.
AUGUSTA — As part of the summer speed reduction awareness and high-visibility enforcement campaign, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is working in conjunction with the other New England Highway Safety Offices, in a combined effort to slow drivers down. The New England Drive to Save Lives campaign calls on all drivers to recognize speeding as an unnecessary and aggressive driving behavior that endangers all road users.
Communities across America are affected every year by fatalities that occur in speeding-related crashes. In 2024, there were 11,288 speed-related traffic fatalities, accounting for 29% of all traffic fatalities. Young drivers have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2024, 39% of male drivers and 20% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes, speeding was a factor.
Between July 6th and the 31st, from Aroostook County to York County, more than 47 law enforcement agencies will continue to conduct high-visibility speed enforcement to save lives and reduce speeding and aggressive driving. Law enforcement will be out reminding drivers to slow down and drive with care. Drivers should plan to leave sooner to allow more time to arrive
without rushing. Maine Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart says, “The seconds that you save by speeding are not significant enough to risk your safety or that of anyone sharing the road with you. Crashes are significantly more dangerous, resulting in death or serious injury when speeding is involved. Everyone wants to arrive at their destination safely.”
From Maine to Connecticut, New England is reminding drivers to Drive to Save Lives across the region. Whether you’re vacationing in another state or having a staycation, please slow down and take your time getting to your destination this summer.
Chief Matt Cummings of the Fort Fairfield Police Department says, “Keeping Maine safe isn’t just a job for law enforcement; it’s a shared commitment across our entire community. When you slow down on our local roads, you aren’t just following the law; you are actively protecting your neighbors, our children, and the character of our town. Let’s work together to keep our streets safe for everyone.”
Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a pedestrian, hazardous objects, or an unexpected curve. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), local roads are more dangerous than highways for speeders. It’s a common misconception that speeding is an interstate-related issue: In fact, in 2024, 87% of all speeding-related traffic fatalities in the United States occurred on routes other than interstates.
“Every mile per hour matters. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react, increases stopping distance, and turns a preventable crash into a deadly one. As Maine’s roads become busier during the summer months, we urge drivers to slow down, stay alert and help ensure everyone arrives safely to their destinations,” says Sgt. Josh Stewart of the Kittery Police Department.
The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is reminding drivers to Drive to Save Lives this month. Spend your time on the way to your destination, enjoying all of the beauty New England has to offer, not speeding through it. From the lighthouses across Maine’s coastline, New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, Vermont’s Moss Glen Falls, Massachusetts’s Fenway Park, a ferry ride from Point Judith in Rhode Island, to Connecticut’s Gillette Castle State Park, slow down and enjoy your drive.
PORTLAND, Maine — After a week of political chaos, Maine voters are now left grappling with what comes next — with control of the U.S. Senate on the line.
“To be kind of let down like that, it feels like I almost got ripped off, you know?” Steve Arsenault, a voter from Rockland, Maine, told MS NOW.
On Wednesday, Democrat Graham Platner — a populist outsider who won his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate just last month despite many controversies, including an old tattoo of Nazi symbolism — announced he would suspend his campaign.
Earlier in the week, Platner — who has been mired in a variety of scandals since launching his campaign in 2025 — was accused of rape by an ex-girlfriend in a new story published by Politico. Platner denied the allegations.
With the party now racing to find his replacement in a process set to play out over the next two weeks, many Democratic voters told MS NOW they’d love to see the new candidate espouse Platner’s anti-establishment, populist and at times pugilistic style. But minus the scandal.
And in a race that is a cornerstone of the Democratic Party’s ambitions to win back control of the Senate in the fall’s midterm elections, those voters want the new candidate to be a change agent
“I saw Platner as an opportunity to shake things up, to introduce new voices to the party — particularly younger voices,” Francis Weld of Portland told MS NOW. “I hope that we can find someone who continues that.”
“We want change,” Weld continued. “We need to do things differently if we want to be effective.”
“I want to see him,” Daniel Deis of Portland said, adding, “We need him — but someone with a clean bill of health.”
And Linda Holtslander of Peaks Island told MS NOW she wants Platner’s replacement to have “the platform that he was putting forth to the voters in this state” but “without the baggage.”
Democrats are poised to pick their new flag bearer to take on longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in a quickly organized convention scheduled for July 25 in Bangor, Maine. More than 600 delegates will vote, winnowing the field of candidates in successive rounds of voting until they have a new nominee.
Already, several Mainers have announced they want to be considered — including the former president of the Maine Senate, a former state health official, the current Maine Secretary of State, and a brewer, among others.
Some are already making not-so-subtle overtures at Platner’s populist message.
In his paperwork announcing his run for the Senate, Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, wrote that “the passion, energy and urgency that Graham Platner’s supporters brought to this race” will “have a real and important place in this campaign.”
And Troy Jackson, a former state lawmaker who has already secured the backing of dozens of current and former local officials plus the Maine AFL-CIO, in a social media post claimed to have spent his “whole life” fighting on behalf of a “powerful movement of working class people in the state of Maine.”
“I’m sure as hell not backing down now, when this fight is needed most,” he said.
One major lingering question is whether Platner’s most ardent supporters will accept the nominee selected through this special process.
Recommended
Kevin Frey
Kevin Frey is a congressional reporter for MS NOW.
-
New York3 minutes agoHow a Family of 5 Lives on $46,000 a Year in Wakefield
-
Los Angeles, Ca9 minutes agoSouthern California braces for 110-degree heat, thunderstorms this week
-
Detroit, MI33 minutes agoDetroit Sandwich Party returns to Eastern Market on Sept. 6
-
San Francisco, CA45 minutes agoA Leak of San Francisco Police Drone Footage Exposes the New Reality of Urban Surveillance
-
Dallas, TX51 minutes agoViral East Dallas coffee shop fears major sales drop amid six-week road closure
-
Miami, FL57 minutes ago3 hurt in fire on Lincoln Road that started underground
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoRideshare driver charged in Logan airport passenger assault to appear in court
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoDenver area events for July 13
