NJ Couple Takes Over Maine Beach and Sparks Outrage: Pay Up or Get Off

Thems fighting words.

WGME13 says that Richard and Sheila Tappen who own a cottage on Popham Beach are suing their neighbors. Why? Because they say they bought and now own the dunes and beach between their neighbor and the ocean. Oh boy.

The Tappens are suing their neighbors because they say that they own the sand dunes and beach in front of the Clark Hill family's six beachfront cottages. That means that they could lose access to Popham Beach. He told WGME13 that Richard Tappen told him that if he wanted access it would only cost him $30,000 every summer.

Ultimately, the first conversation was, 'This is now mine. And I'd like you to cease and desist or pay us money.'

The Hills rent out cottages and those renters are in disbelief that you can't access the beach or cross it. The attorney for the Hills said that the Tappens paid a woman $15,000 for her interest in the land in front of their neighbor's beachfront cottages. But the lawyer also said that it's not a legal transaction because it's a common area.

But it doesn't stop there. The lawsuit also says that the Hill's deck, steps, ramp, shed, boardwalk, and beach path are now on Tappen's property. And of course, they have filed a counter-suit. It could affect other waterfront properties in Maine, including other neighbors of the Tappens who don't care if you walk to the beach, or on the dunes next to them. This is where a little humanity would go a long way.