McGuire v. McGuire

608 P.2d 1278, 1980 Wyo. LEXIS 251
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 21, 1980
Docket5176
StatusPublished
Cited by144 cases

This text of 608 P.2d 1278 (McGuire v. McGuire) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McGuire v. McGuire, 608 P.2d 1278, 1980 Wyo. LEXIS 251 (Wyo. 1980).

Opinions

RAPER, Chief Justice.

This appeal deals with an application for a private road to a parcel of landlocked property. The application was filed pursuant to §§ 24-9-101 et seq., W.S.1977.1

The contestants-appellees, Dan and Loretta McGuire, filed their petition naming [1281]*1281the contestees-appellants, Fred and Mickey McGuire, as well as Two Bar Ranch Company.2 The appellees wanted a private road over the lands of either the appellants or Two Bar Ranch. A hearing was had before the Platte County Commissioners on June 6, 1978.3 An additional hearing was conducted on July 12, 1978. In addition to the testimony heard by the county commissioners at these proceedings, there were a significant number of exhibits and other items of evidence placed in the record. At those hearings, Eldon and Elaine Allison were added as parties because they had purchased the 80 acres in question from the appellees4 and were the record owners. Thus, the Allisons are also appellees. Our future references to appellees thus include both the McGuires and the Allisons.

On September 6, 1978, the county commissioners issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order which dismissed the appellees’ application for a private road. The commissioners’ dismissal was based on several grounds:

[1282]*1282“1. Dan McGuire and Loretta McGuire were, prior to August 13, 1975, the owners of 80 acres of land commonly described as the NWVí SWV4 and SWV4 NWVi of Section 10, T23N, R69W of the 6th P.M., Platte County, Wyoming.
“2. Subsequent to the filing of this petition, the contestants sold the described property on August 13, 1975, to Eldon Allison and Elaine Allison, husband and wife, under a Contract of Sale and Guarantee Agreement. Dan McGuire and Loretta McGuire are not the legal owners of the property in question, having conveyed the same by Warranty Deed to Eldon Allison and Elaine Allison, husband and wife, by Warranty Deed recorded on October 25, 1976, in Book 194 at Pages 163 and 164, Platte County records.
“3. Subsequently, on May 13,1976, Eldon Allison and Elaine Allison resold the property under a Contract of Sale to Raymond Flynn and Darlene Flynn, husband and wife. Dan McGuire and Loretta McGuire were not parties to the said Contract of Sale, although they approved the terms thereof. This sale was subject to obtaining a road right of way to said premises.
“4. Eldon Allison and Elaine Allison are the holders of legal title to the 80 acres. The owners of said 80 acres, subject to the terms of the Contract of Sale, are Raymond Flynn and Darlene Flynn, who paid the taxes thereon for the year 1977.
“5. At the June 6, 1978, hearing, Eldon Allison and Elaine Allison were joined as contestants and applicants. At no time were Raymond Flynn or Darlene Flynn joined as applicants or contestants. * * * * * *
“13. There has been no evidence presented by the applicants as to the purposes for which the road is desired, future type or extent of use of any proposed road, or of the proposed use of the 80 acres. Accordingly, the Board of County Commissioners is unable to determine the impact which any proposed road would have upon adjoining landowners which the road might cross. The only interest of the Contestants-Applicants in obtaining a private road is financial, which interest the Board finds to be an inadequate basis for granting the application.
“14. The 80 acres in question are not presently used by the McGuires, the Alli-sons, or the Flynns. Use of such property has been limited to hunting and other minor activities upon the property.
“15. There are no fences surrounding the 80 acres, although there is a boundary fence on the south side of the property. There are no improvements except for a homestead cabin ruin. The 80 acres are situated in extremely mountains [sic] property.
“16. Section 3 of the Unlawful Enclosure of Public Lands Act (43 U.S.C. § 1063 prevents obstruction of free passage over public lands of the United States of America.
“17. No evidence as to the necessity or need for such road has been presented in this proceeding.
“18. The Board of County Commissioners finds that the private road is not necessary, as required by Section 24-9— 101, Wyoming Statutes 1977, for the reason that the applicants presently have access to the property and such access has not been denied. The adjoining landowners over whose lands the requested private road may be located will suffer more from the granting of the application than will the applicants from its denial.
“19. Access to the property has never been denied, and access by the McGuires has traditionally been from the west, north or the east of the property.
“20. For in excess of 40 years, there has been an established road to the north of the property on the Muleshoe Flats, which branch off of County Road No. 271. Said road is across BLM lands, and has been used by members of the public during that time. The public lands over which such roads pass have not been reserved for any public use. [1283]*1283“21. 43 U.S.C. Section 932 provides: ‘The right of way for the constructing of highways over public lands, not reserved for public uses, is hereby granted.’
“Although the statute was repealed effective October 21, 1976, the two roads which branch off the County Road to the north across Muleshoe Plats were previously laid out and used by the public sufficient to constitute acceptance and dedication of the offer contained in that statute, and therefore an established road is deemed to exist across the public lands of the United States.
$ sfi * * *

The commissioners then concluded:

“CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
“1. The application herein is filed pursuant to Section 24-9-101, Wyoming Statutes, 1977.
“2. The proposed private road is unnecessary.
“3. No viewers or appraisers should be appointed by this Board to determine damages to the property of the contestees caused by location of a road over their property until contestants have shown necessity, lack of access, and that any such road over the property of contestees will be lawfully and legally continued over the lands of all landowners whose property lies between the public road and the lands of contestees, which proof has not been established.
“4. The said 80 acres has an outlet and connection with a public road, which outlet is convenient and available to the applicants!5!
“5. The Board of County Commissioners has jurisdiction over the parties hereto as well as the subject matter hereof!6!
“6.

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Bluebook (online)
608 P.2d 1278, 1980 Wyo. LEXIS 251, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcguire-v-mcguire-wyo-1980.