Staff Writer

The mother of murdered brothers Derek and Gage Greene has filed a wrongful death suit against the man who shot them 17 months ago.

Eric Cote, attorney for Tammy Cole of Biddeford, filed the suit Nov. 15 against Rory Holland in York County Superior Court. Cole is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, compensatory damages, funeral expenses, medical bills and punitive damages.

Holland was convicted Nov. 3 of murdering Derek Greene, 21, and Gage Greene, 19, on June 30, 2009, on South Street in Biddeford. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

Cote said he and Cole waited to file the suit until after Holland was convicted following an eight-day trial at Penobscot County Superior Court in Bangor. Cote said Holland’s conviction shows he acted with negligence, which is required for a wrongful death judgment.

“It’s a pretty touch case for the defendant,” Cote said. “It’s a clear-cut case.”

Holland, who is being held at York County Jail, asked a judge in his handwritten response to dismiss the case because Cole, “does not allege personally having been encumbered by any loss whatsoever.” He also said the case should be dismissed because Cole was aware of her loss for more than a year and did not file a notice of intent to sue.

Cote said state law allows Cole up to two years to file suit from the time of the deaths. Cote previously had a lawyer-client relationship with Holland. The relationship ended in April 2009 after Holland allegedly told Cote he could “put a bullet in my head if things didn’t go his way in court,” Cote said.

Cole said she filed suit against Holland because she wants to take everything he owns.

“I want to take everything from him like he did me,” she said. “I’m going to make the rest of his life miserable. My life will never be the same.”

Cole said she has been unable to work since her two youngest sons were murdered. Used to working 50 hours per week, she now spends much of her time attending counseling sessions, she said.

Cote said the “big question mark” is whether there is any likelihood of recovering money from Holland. Holland owns a house at 58 South St., which has liens for unpaid property taxes. Cote said Holland also owns property in Sinclair in Aroostook County.

Both Cote and Cole said they are not interested in the South Street property because it is unlikely to have much value.

Though she was happy about Holland’s conviction, Cole said she is nowhere near ready to forgive Holland for killing her sons. While she waits for his sentencing hearing, Cole said she wants to make sure Holland “keeps paying” for his actions.

“I don’t want any of this to be pleasant for him. He will never forget me or my face or my voice,” she said. 

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.