Holewiak v. Jones

281 N.E.2d 113, 151 Ind. App. 588, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 858
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 12, 1972
DocketNo. 971A184
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 281 N.E.2d 113 (Holewiak v. Jones) 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
Holewiak v. Jones, 281 N.E.2d 113, 151 Ind. App. 588, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 858 (Ind. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

Sharp, J.

The original complaint in this case was filed by the Plaintiffs-Appellees, Allabelle Jones and George S. Jones, d/b/a George S. Jones & Company, against Gabriel J. Holewiak and Lois- F. Holewiak, Defendants-Appellants on the 28th of August, 1964. Subsequently an amended complaint for trespass and restraining order was filed in which it was alleged that the Plaintiffs-Appellees were the owners of the following described real estate situated in Fulton County, State of Indiana, to-wit:

Beginning at a point 174 feet West of the Southeast corner of Lot No. 4 in Hamilton & Taber’s Addition of Out Lots to the Town, now City of Rochester, Indiana, said point being on the North line of Sixth Street in said City; thence West 150 feet; thence North 120 feet; thence East to the West line of Minnow Creek Ditch; thence Southeasterly along said Ditch to the North line of a tract of land owned by Norman Teel; thence West to a point directly North of the place of beginning; thence South to the place of beginning.

Said complaint further alleges that on the 27th day of November, 1962, at the request of the Plaintiffs-Appellees and after due notice was served upon the Defendants-Appellants a legal survey of the above described real estate was conducted by the Surveyor of Fulton County, Indiana. That said survey did set and establish the north and west lines and did perpetuate the corners of the above described real estate.

It is further alleged that said survey was duly recorded in the office of the Recorder of Fulton County, Indiana, on the 3rd day of April, 1963, and that no appeal was made to said survey. Said amended complaint further alleged that the lines so established and the corners so perpetuated hád [590]*590been in existence for a period of more than thirty years. The complaint further alleged that contrary to said survey in the year 1960 the Defendants-Appellants did construct and have since maintained a wire fence which is approximately ten feet within the west boundary line of the real estate owned by the Plaintiff-Appellees. That in the construction of said fence it is alleged that the Defendants-Appellants did trespass on the real estate of the Plaintiffs-Appellees and have, since construction of said fence, used said property of the Plaintiffs-Appellees to their own use and benefit. Said complaint prays for a restraining order and injunction against the continuance of said trespass and encroachment.

The Defendants-Appellants filed an answer in denial and a second paragraph of affirmative answer which states in part as follows:

“2. That the survey, as conducted by said surveyor, is in error and the plat prepared by the surveyor from such survey shows on its face that the same is in error and does not properly establish the lines of the real estate described in rhetorical paragraph 1 hereof.”

The Defendants-Appellants for their third affirmative paragraph of answer alleged in part as follows:

“2. That thereafter on or about January 15, 1963, the then surveyor of Fulton County, Indiana, agreed with these defendants that said survey was in error and further agreed to correct the same and relocate the boundaries established.
3. That the surveyor failed to properly correct said survey as agreed and thereafter the survey as originally made was recorded at the office of the recorder of this county on the 3rd day of April, 1963, contrary to the agreement with defendants.
4. That the defendants, relying upon the agreement with said surveyor, failed to take the necessary steps to appeal from said survey.”

Thereafter the Plaintiffs-Appellees demurred to the second and third paragraph of answer on the ground that neither [591]*591of said paragraphs stated facts sufficient to constitute a defense to the Plaintiffs’ amended complaint. The trial court overruled said demurrer as to the second paragraph of answer and sustained it as to the third paragraph of answer. (The ruling on this demurrer is not argued here.)

On the 17th day of March, 1971, the trial court entered the following judgment:

“The Court now finds that the allegations of the plaintiffs’ complaint are true; that the plaintiffs were owners of the real estate described in the complaint; that on the 27th day of November, 1962, the Surveyor of Fulton County, Indiana, conducted a legal survey of said real estate which did set out and establish the north and west lines and did perpetuate the corners of the real estate described in the plaintiff’s complaint of which the plaintiffs were owners; that said survey is valid, correct and final; that the defendants did construct in the year of 1960 and have since maintained a wire fence on the land of the plaintiffs and did commit trespass on the lands of the plaintiffs; that said fence should be removed immediately; and that the plaintiffs were damaged by said trespass in the amount of $500.00, and should recover the costs of this action.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED by the Court that the defendants did commit trespass upon the lands of the plaintiffs; that the fence constructed heretofore should be removed forthwith; that the plaintiffs shall recover from the defendants for damages for said trespass the sum of $500.00 and the costs of this action; and that the defendants are enjoined from further trespassing upon the grounds of the plaintiffs.”

Thereafter the Motion to Correct Errors of the Defendants-Appellants was filed and overruled and this appeal resulted. The Motion to Correct Errors contains eight specifications of error. However, the Appellants have only presented argument here on the specifications that the decision of the trial court is not sustained by sufficient evidence and is contrary to law. All other specifications not argued here are therefore waived.

[592]*592Prior to the submission of the evidence in the trial of this case it was stipulated by all parties that a legal survey was made by the Surveyor of Fulton County, Indiana, of the property described in the Plaintiffs’ complaint and, that due notice had been given of the legal survey to the Defendants, and that no appeal was taken of the survey which was duly recorded in the office of the Recorder of Fulton . County, Indiana. At no time was there any objection to or evidence entered to contest this stipulation. Lois Sholey, Fulton County Recorder, identified the request for a legal survey made by the Plaintiffs, the notice of survey to the Defendants, together with certificate of service and the survey prepared by the County Surveyor in accordance with said request for survey and notice. These items were admitted into evidence without objection. This exhibit was shown to have been the survey of the lands of the Plaintiffs and Defendants and was recorded in the records of Fulton County, Indiana.

George S. Jones, one of the Plaintiffs, testified that he was the owner of the land described in the legal survey and presented a deed to the court showing himself to be the owner of said land. This deed was admitted into evidence without objection. Gabriel J. Holewiak, one of the Defendants, testified that he was the owner of the land adjacent to the Plaintiffs’ land and that he had actual notice of the legal survey when it was made by the County Surveyor.

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348 N.E.2d 63 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1976)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
281 N.E.2d 113, 151 Ind. App. 588, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 858, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/holewiak-v-jones-indctapp-1972.