David has over 30 years of experience handling property tax appeals, representing both taxpayers and municipalities regarding assessments on residential, commercial, retail, industrial, energy, and otherwise exempt properties. With regard to non-residential property, he regularly practices before the State of Maine Board of Property Tax Appeal. He represents residential property owners before assessors and local board of assessment reviews. He has appeared before the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board on behalf of the owner of a large generation facility.
In addition to his advocacy work, David mediates property tax appeals. He has also served on several adjudicatory bodies hearing tax appeals. From 1987 until 2004, David served on the City of Portland Board of Assessment Review. Since 2017 David has served on the Cumberland County Board of Assessment Review.
His experience in representing both property owners and municipalities and in serving on property tax appeals boards gives David a unique and sound perspective on all aspects of an assessment challenge or defense.
He addition to his tax appeal work, David advises individuals, businesses and nonprofits on a wide range of property, land use and development related issues, including issues arising out of potential development, the joint ownership of property, boundary disputes, easements, adverse possession, title, zoning and riparian access issues (docks, moorings and navigation). He also assists families with respect to issues arising out of the common ownership of property. From 2004 until 2013, he served on the City of Portland Planning Board. In 2018, the Portland City Council reappointed David to the Planning Board.
David also provides alternative dispute resolution services, including mediation to individuals and businesses on a wide range of matters. He serves on several rosters of the State of Maine Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES).
Prior to entering private practice in 1986, he served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Louis Scolnik of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He is peer review rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell for ethical standards and legal ability.
Curtis Thaxter
One Canal Plaza, Suite 1000, Portland, ME 04101
P.O. Box 7320, Portland, ME 04112-7320
(P) (207) 774-9000 ext 220
(F) (207) 775-0612
www.curtisthaxter.com