Buford v. Logue

832 So. 2d 594, 2002 WL 31656637
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedNovember 26, 2002
Docket2001-CA-00977-COA
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 832 So. 2d 594 (Buford v. Logue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buford v. Logue, 832 So. 2d 594, 2002 WL 31656637 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002).

Opinion

832 So.2d 594 (2002)

B. Pete BUFORD, Buford Land Partnership, LP, Dorothy Faye Kittrell and W.H. Kittrell, Appellants
v.
Hugh L. LOGUE, Jr. and Myra C. Logue, Appellees.

No. 2001-CA-00977-COA.

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

November 26, 2002.

*597 Clifford C. Whitney, III, R.E. Parker, Jr., Vicksburg, for appellant.

Barrett Blake Teller, Vicksburg, for appellee.

Before SOUTHWICK, P.J., LEE and MYERS, JJ.

MYERS, J., for the Court:

¶ 1. B. Pete Buford and Buford Land Partnership, LP (Buford) and Dorothy Faye Kittrell and W.H. Kittrell (the Kittrells) appeal the decision of the Chancery Court of Warren County. The Honorable Pat Wise, sitting as special chancellor, granted fee simple title of two separate parcels and a private road to Hugh Logue, Jr. and Myra C. Logue (the Logues) by adverse possession. Buford and the Kittrells contend that the chancellor erred in granting title by adverse possession to the Logues. Buford and the Kittrells assert the following issues:

1. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE LOGUES PROVED ADVERSE POSSESSION OF THE .24 ACRE PARCEL BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE;

2. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE LOGUES PROVED ADVERSE POSSESSION OF THE .73 ACRE PARCEL BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE; AND

3. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE LOGUES WERE ENTITLED TO FEE SIMPLE TITLE BY ADVERSE POSSESSION OF THE PRIVATE ROAD RATHER THAN AN EASEMENT.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

¶ 2. The Logues instituted an action in the Chancery Court of Warren County seeking to claim title by adverse possession to several parcels of land. Trial was held based on a second amended complaint. The chancellor granted the Logues title by adverse possession to a .24 acre parcel, a .73 acre parcel, and a private road. The chancellor held a post trial hearing based on the defendants's motion to amend order, and for a new trial, and for other relief. The chancellor amended the order, granting the Kittrells an easement over the private road subject to the Kittrells making improvements to the road. After entry of a final judgment, Buford and the Kittrells appeal.

.24 Acre Parcel

¶ 3. The .24 acre parcel is located in Warren County on Freeman Road. The parcel is also referred to in the record and the briefs as "Lot 219" or "219 Freeman Road." This piece of disputed real property is more particularly described by the chancellor as follows:

Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 20, Township 16 North, Range 4 East, Warren County, Mississippi; thence West, 545.50 feet; thence South, 40.00 feet to the point of beginning of the herein described parcel; thence South 73 degrees 35 minutes for 113.54 feet; thence South 55 degrees 24 minutes 34 seconds West for 34.03 feet; thence South 65 degrees 02 minutes 12 seconds West for 137.66 feet; thence South 78 degrees 19 minutes West 67.70 *598 feet; thence North 49 degrees 22 minutes 51 seconds West for 8.92 feet to the east right of way of Freeman Road; thence with the east right of way of Freeman Road North 49 degrees 31 minutes 22 seconds East for 111.32 feet; thence with the east right of way of Freeman Road, North 35 degrees 35 minutes 03 seconds East for 55.51 feet to the point of beginning containing 0.24 acres, more or less.

¶ 4. Until his death on January 26, 1969, Archie Logue was the record owner of a greater parcel of land which included the.24 acre parcel. Upon Archie Logue's death, title was held by his heirs until their conveyances to Jerry Beard on April 15 and April 17, 1997. Jerry Beard immediately conveyed the land to B. Pete Buford on April 18, 1997. B. Pete Buford bought the land with notice of the presence of the Logues. B. Pete Buford is the record title holder of the .24 acre parcel. All taxes due on the .24 acre parcel have been paid by the record title owners.

¶ 5. In 1967, Hugh Logue, Jr. moved a mobile home onto the land. Testimony reflects that Hugh Logue, Jr. graded the land, put in a gravel driveway, installed a utility pole, a septic tank, and a water tap, and poured concrete slabs for later installation of a carport and storage shed. The Logues later fenced in the property. The Logues claimed that in 1967 Archie Logue gave the .24 acre parcel to Hugh Logue, Jr. as a wedding gift. Buford argued that Archie Logue simply gave the Logues permission to use the parcel of land. Both sides presented conflicting testimony as to whether an attempted gift was made or was there just mere permission. There was no deed or written instrument to evidence a gift. Testimony at the trial also indicated that Archie Logue refused to give a deed to Hugh Logue, Jr.

¶ 6. The land was occupied by the Logues from 1967 until 1976. The Logues moved the mobile home off the land in 1976 but continued to use the land for storage and for gardening. The carport and storage shed remained. Others, including the Kittrells, used the land for gardening and recreation. There was conflicting testimony as to whether the use of the property by other people was with or without the Logues's permission. The Logues presented testimony that they gave both expressed or implied consent. This type of use continued until 1984 when Howard Kittrell moved a mobile home onto the land. Testimony at trial conflicted as to whether Hugh Logue, Jr. granted Howard Kittrell permission to move onto the land or whether Hugh Logue, Jr. told Howard Kittrell that he was not the owner. Howard Kittrell remained on the land until 1990. Trey Logue, son of the Logues, bought the mobile home from Howard Kittrell. Trey Logue remained on the land until 1997.

¶ 7. In 1997, before Jerry Beard conveyed the land to B. Pete Buford, Hugh Logue, Jr. attempted to purchase the land from Jerry Beard. Both sides presented conflicting testimony as to whether this was an admission by the Logues that they did not own the property or an attempt by the Logues to try and settle any potential dispute without going to court. After Jerry Beard declined to sell the land to the Logues, he sold it to Buford. Trey Logue was demanded to leave the land by Glenn Kittrell. Glenn Kittrell was acting under order of Buford. Testimony was presented that Hugh Logue, Jr. knew he did not have record title as owner when Trey Logue left the land.

¶ 8. A videotape was offered by Buford at the post trial hearing, but not the trial. The tape is an attempt to show an admission by Hugh Logue, Jr. that the .24 acre *599 lot did not belong to the Logues. The chancellor excluded the videotape because the posttrial hearing was granted on matters concerning the private drive, not the.24 acre parcel.

.73 Acre Parcel

¶ 9. The .73 acre parcel is located in Warren County. The parcel is also known as "225 Freeman Road." This piece of disputed real property is more particularly described by the chancellor as follows:

Beginning on the west right of way line of Freeman Road, marking the Northeast corner of H.L. Logue lot as recorded in Deed Book 422, page 547, Warren County Courthouse, running thence North 44° 25' West 230 feet along the East side of said lot, thence North 69° 0' East, 190.5 feet to the West right of way of Freeman Road, thence following said right of way South 32° 7' East, 41.6 feet, thence South 24° 27' East, 48.8 feet, thence South 11° 5' East, 47.2 feet, thence South 2° 5' West, 29.2 feet, thence South 24° 40' West, 38.7 feet, thence South 50° 31' West, 65.9 feet to the point of beginning. Being all in Section 20, Township 16 North, Range 4 East, Warren County, Mississippi, containing 0.73 acres.

¶ 10.

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Bluebook (online)
832 So. 2d 594, 2002 WL 31656637, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buford-v-logue-missctapp-2002.