Herbertson v. Iliff

775 P.2d 754, 108 N.M. 552
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 6, 1989
Docket10078
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 775 P.2d 754 (Herbertson v. Iliff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Herbertson v. Iliff, 775 P.2d 754, 108 N.M. 552 (N.M. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

OPINION

ALARID, Judge.

This appeal arises from a district court action filed by appellee (Herbertson) seeking to secure an easement and injunctive relief prohibiting interference with such easement over land owned by appellant (Iliff). A trial on the merits was originally held in 1986, with judgment entered in favor of Iliff. Subsequently, on a motion by Herbertson, the trial court vacated the 1986 judgment and granted a new trial. Following retrial in 1987, the trial court entered judgment declaring a private easement by prescription in favor of Herbert-son and enjoining interference therewith.

The sole issue appellant raises is whether a private prescriptive easement can be established over land owned by the federal government during the prescriptive period. Appellee seeks review of two issues pursuant to SCRA 1986, 12-201(C): (1) Whether the trial court erred in rejecting appellee’s proposed finding that Dona Ana County Road 89 is sixty feet wide and encompasses within its width the disputed parcel; and (2) Whether substantial evidence exists to-support the district court’s finding that the disputed parcel has not been used in such a manner as to establish a public road by adverse user. We reverse the trial court as to the existence of a private prescriptive easement, and we find no error on the part of the trial court as to the two issues raised by appellee.

FACTS

Right-of-way across a 1,056 square foot triangular parcel of land is the subject of this dispute. The disputed parcel is part of a larger tract of land which was owned by the United States and administered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1985, when it was conveyed to Iliff by U.S. Patent. Herbertson owns property adjoining the disputed parcel on which his predecessors-in-interest established a mobile home park between 1971 and 1972. Herbertson has partially paved the disputed parcel and uses it for access to his mobile home park.

Dona Ana County Road 89 (county road 89) parallels the northern boundary of the land conveyed to Iliff by the United States and dead-ends at the entrance to the mobile home park. The disputed triangular parcel forms the northeast comer of Iliff’s land, abutting the south side of county road 89 and a small portion of the western boundary of Herbertson’s mobile home park. It is uncontested that, from 1972 to 1985, the encroachment over the disputed triangular parcel provided a road for ingress and egress by Herbertson, his predecessors in interest, his mobile home tenants, and their invitees and guests. Dumpsters were also located on the parcel to provide for refuse disposal by tenants of the park.

Following the 1985 transfer of the parcel, Iliff erected a 22-foot long fence along the northeast side of the paved triangle, effectively disrupting Herbertson’s use of the land. Subsequently, the fence was destroyed and then replaced by a cinder block wall. This legal action ensued, with Herbertson seeking declaration of an easement across the parcel and injunctive relief preventing Iliff from interfering with use of the easement.

DISCUSSION

Whether a private prescriptive easement can be established over land owned by the federal government during the prescriptive period.

Herbertson argues acquisition of an easement by prescription. Easements by prescription are acquired by use which is open, uninterrupted, peaceable, notorious, adverse, continuous, and under a claim of right for a period of ten years or longer, which period is identical to the statutory period for acquiring title by adverse possession. Archuleta v. Jacquez, 103 N.M. 254, 704 P.2d 1130 (Ct.App.1985).

Acquisition of title by adverse possession and acquisition of an easement by prescription are alike in another way. It is generally held that neither is permitted against a sovereign, except where statutory authority exists. See R. Powell, 3 Powell on Real Property 11413 (rev. ed. 1987); 7 Powell on Real Property ¶ 1015 (rev. ed. 1987). Absent specific consent, state statutes of limitations do not apply to the federal government. Engle v. United States, 258 F.2d 50 (6th Cir.1958). The consent to be bound by a state statute of limitation must be express. Annotation, Acquisition by Adverse Possession or Use of Public Property Held by Municipal Corporation or Other Governmental Unit Otherwise Than for Streets, Alleys, Parks or Common, 55 A.L.R.2d 554, at 563.

In this case, Herbertson’s claim is against Iliff, a private individual. Nevertheless, the disputed parcel was held by the federal government during the entire prescriptive period. Under these circumstances, the question of whether the action is permissible depends on federal law and statute. Utah Power & Light Co. v. United States, 243 U.S. 389, 37 S.Ct. 387, 61 L.Ed. 791 (1917). Our initial inquiry then is whether the federal government has specifically or expressly agreed to be bound by states’ common or statutory law regarding prescriptive rights. See Engle v. United States.

Herbertson identifies no federal authority consenting to the adjudication of prescriptive claims against the United States in state courts. His reliance on Kinscherff v. United States, 586 F.2d 159 (10th Cir.1978) and Burdess v. United States, 553 F.Supp. 646 (E.D.Ark.1982) is misplaced. Both Kinscherff and Burdess were actions brought in federal courts pursuant to 28 U.S.C., Section 2409a. We first note that subsection (g) of this statute expressly excludes suits against the United States based on adverse possession. United States v. Lemon, 632 F.Supp. 431 (D.Colo.1986). The statute is not framed in terms recognizing prescriptive title on the basis of adverse possession. United States v. Gammache, 713 F.2d 588 (10th Cir.1983). Further, in quiet title actions against the United States, exclusive jurisdiction is vested in federal courts. McClellan v. Kimball, 623 F.2d 83 (9th Cir.1980). State courts are without jurisdiction to decide quiet title actions against the federal government. See Id. Consequently, even if Herbertson’s claim was cognizable under Section 2409a, in this instance, the district court was without jurisdiction to decide a prescriptive claim to land owned by the federal government.

Further, even if Herbertson had identified federal assent to adjudication of an action of this type in state courts, we have long recognized that prescriptive rights cannot be acquired against the United States. Burgett v. Calentine, 56 N.M. 194, 242 P.2d 276 (1951). Herbertson’s contention that Burgett was significantly limited in Trigg v. Allemand, 95 N.M. 128, 619 P.2d 573

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Bluebook (online)
775 P.2d 754, 108 N.M. 552, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/herbertson-v-iliff-nmctapp-1989.