Mesne (reads as “mean”) profits is the damages for trespass. The term “mesne profits” means “intermediate profits.” (See Cracchiolo v. State, 146 Ariz. 452(Appeals Court, Division 2,1985) for more detail.) If a trespasser has created any damage to the landowner, such as lower the value of the land, or has taken the land’s occupation value, the trespasser would have to compensate the landowner.
Mesne profits often result from the trespasser’s removal of products of the land, such as minerals, timber, etc. They can also be resulted from a hold-over case, in which case the landlord can be recovered for rental value.
[Last updated in August of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team]