Elliot v. Keely

98 N.E.2d 374, 121 Ind. App. 529, 1951 Ind. App. LEXIS 189
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 26, 1951
Docket18,141
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 98 N.E.2d 374 (Elliot v. Keely) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Elliot v. Keely, 98 N.E.2d 374, 121 Ind. App. 529, 1951 Ind. App. LEXIS 189 (Ind. Ct. App. 1951).

Opinion

Martin, J.

This is an appeal from an action brought by the appellees against the appellants for a permanent injunction and damages. The judgment of the court granted the injunction and awarded damages in the sum of $10.00.

The errors relied upon by the appellants for reversal, which are not waived, are that the trial court erred in overruling the demurrer of the appellants to the complaint, and that the court erred in overruling appellants’ motion for a new trial.

The specifications for a new trial are that the decision or finding of the court is not sustained by sufficient evidence, and that the decision or finding of the court is contrary to law.

The appellants demurred to the appellees’ complaint.

The appellants contend that unless all parties owning lots in said sub-division are joined as parties-plaintiff the defendants will be liable to a multiplicity of suits; that the defendants are not bound by the restrictive covenants in the deeds of their predecessors in title; that the complaint does not allege any facts against defendants which would entitle the plaintiffs to the relief prayed for; that the building mentioned in the complaint abuts on a state and United States high *532 way and any restrictions of the reasonable use thereof would be contrary to public policy.

The complaint alleges that appellees owned property in an area protected by restrictions in conveyances, and by reason of such ownership, they had such a beneficial interest arising out of the restrictions as to entitle them to enjoin any violation 'thereof. Therefore, appellees were proper parties-plaintiff, and there was no defect of parties-plaintiff. Bachman v. Colpaert Realty Corp. (1936), 101 Ind. App. 306, 194 N. E. 783; Sorrentino v. Cunningham (1942), 111 Ind. App. 212, 39 N. E. 2d 473.

The appellants are bound by the restrictive covenants in the deeds of their predecessors in title. Such covenants are covenants running with the land, and are binding upon a purchaser of such real estate. Appellees’ complaint states a good cause of action against appellants. Sorrentino v. Cunningham, supra.

We are of the opinion that restrictions in conveyances limiting the use of said property to residential purposes are not unreasonable or against pub-lie policy because said property is adjacent to or abuts on a state and United States highway.

All objections to the sufficiency of a complaint not specified in a memorandum accompanying the demurrer are waived. Fidelity, etc., Ins. Co. v. Purlee (1922), 192 Ind. 106, 135 N. E. 385; C. C. C. & St. L. Ry. Co. v. Gillespie. (1933), 96 Ind. App. 535, 173 N. E. 708; Burns’ 1946 Replacement, §2-1007.

The demurrer to the complaint was properly overruled by the trial court.

On appeal, when the sufficiency of the evidence is questioned, we do not weigh the evidence, but we examine the record to see if there is any evidence, or any reasonable or logical inference which may be drawn from the evidence, which if be *533 lieved by the court would sustain the findings and decision of the court. Gamble v. Lewis (1949), 227 Ind. 455, 85 N. E. 2d 629; Butterfield v. Trittipo (1879), 67 Ind. 338, 342; Indiana Ins. Co. v. Handlon (1940), 216 Ind. 442, 24 N. E. 2d 1003.

The record, when considered most favorable to the appellees, and with reasonable inference against the appellants, discloses that under date of January 22, 1949, the appellants, as grantees, received a deed to Lot No. 9 in Kime Place Addition. The appellant, Max D. Elliot, testified that he knew at the time of the purchase that there were certain restrictions in the deed restricting the use of any building erected thereon to residential purposes; that thereafter there was a building known as “The Barn” erected thereon; that he operated a restaurant on the lower ground floor of said building.

Mr. Elliot further testified that he had juke boxes on the ground floor of his building; that said juke boxes operated when a coin was placed in them. The building which was erected on Lot No. 9 was 30 x 40 feet, with a restaurant and soda fountain on the lower floor, also seats and a counter, and that high school students and other persons congregated there to dine. There were flood lights on the outside of the building which burned during darkness or after sundown. The restaurant was kept open every day until eleven or twelve o’clock at night, except Sundays when it was opened at four o’clock. The restaurant had- a neon sign in front and was classified as “The Barn” and the building was built to serve soft drinks and food. It also had two living apartments upstairs, in one of which Mr. Elliot resided.

Mr. Elliot further testified that the deed to Lot No. 8, which was owned by the appellees, contained restrictions against the use of said lot for any other *534 than residential purposes. The evidence also shows that the appellees’ deed to Lot No. 8 contained the same restrictions with the exception of the value of the residential building to be erected on said lot, which value was $4,000.00 instead of $2,500.00, otherwise the restrictions were the same in both deeds.

The evidence shows that Albert P. Kime and Perninah M. Kime, as owners, recorded on October 29, 1925, a plat of Kime Place, located in Concord Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, containing 124 lots, Lot No. 8 and. Lot No. 9 being a part of said platted lots.

Mr. Albert P. Kime testified that he owned a tract of land containing 53 acres at Dunlap and decided to plat it into lots about 1925; that he placed the matter in the hands of one Mr. Sigerfoos, who was the Trustee and a realtor, to have the title quieted and the land laid out in lots; that the plat was recorded and Mr. Sigerfoos started to sell the lots; that he (Mr. Kime), was working on the railroad at the time and could not handle the matter; that he intended the property to be adapted to residential purposes after he platted it and required that covenants be placed in the deeds as he sold the separate and several lots.

Mr. Kime further testified that sometime after his farm was platted he and his wife made a deed to Jerome F. Keely and Gazelle Keely, which deed contained restrictions for residential purposes; that he also executed a deed to Alvertis Haley, containing the same restrictions. The evidence shows that Alvertis Haiey was the grantor of Lot No. 9 to the appellants. Mr. Kime testified he intended, when he platted the land, that it be laid out for residential purposes and that was his reason for including the covenants; that he did not give any deeds which did not contain the covenants. He further testified that he lived in the *535 addition on Lot No. 11 which was about 150 feet southeast of the appellants’ property. He also testified that not all of the land was laid out in lots; that Mr. Sigerfoos owned some in the southwest corner and a Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
98 N.E.2d 374, 121 Ind. App. 529, 1951 Ind. App. LEXIS 189, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/elliot-v-keely-indctapp-1951.