In The Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana ______________________________
No. 06-10-00130-CV ______________________________
SHERYL ―GENE‖ MCCLUNG, ET AL., Appellants
V.
IRENE AYERS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 62nd Judicial District Court Franklin County, Texas Trial Court No. 10,921
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ. Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss OPINION
For decades, the McClung family reached their landlocked property in Franklin County,
Texas, by crossing through a neighboring property owned by the Ayers family. In 2000, Irene
Ayers, sole owner of the Ayers property at that time, refused to let the McClungs cross her
property any longer. In July 2009, after trying other options to access their property, the
McClungs filed suit against Ayers, alleging that they had established an easement across her
property by at least one of four alternative theories—prescription, estoppel, necessity, and
implication. The jury found that no easement existed under any of the four theories. On appeal,
the McClungs attack each of the four findings on both legal and factual sufficiency grounds. We
affirm the judgment of the trial court because legally and factually sufficient evidence supports
each of the jury findings.
Before we discuss the issues, we provide a little background.
The Ayers land adjoins the McClung property. The McClung property is landlocked,
whereas the Ayers land is adjacent to a public roadway. The McClungs have owned the property
since 1911, though no one has lived on it since 1929. Since 1929, the McClungs have used the
property a few times per year for hunting, fishing, and camping.
Ayers‘ predecessors in title, her family, purchased the Ayers property in 1945. Ayers,
herself, ceased living on the property in 1974 or 1975. Later, after the death of her father, Ayers
obtained consolidated title to the property through her mother‘s and her father‘s remaining heirs.
2 Ayers‘ property was vacant from 1996 through 2007.
For decades, different members of the McClung family crossed Ayers‘ property to reach
their own. The McClungs argue that it is the only way in or out. Gene McClung, sixty-one years
of age, remembers going across Ayers‘ property to reach their land when he was eight–ten years
old. They did not go there frequently, just a few times every couple of years.
In 2000, Ayers locked a gate across her property and refused to allow the McClungs to
cross. Gary Buck, a neighboring landowner and Ayers‘ relative, temporarily gave the McClungs
permission to cross his land to reach theirs. However, in 2004, Buck withdrew his permission.
In his revocation letter, he noted that the McClungs have ―historically‖ accessed their property
through the Ayers land.
The McClungs tried, but failed, to obtain permission or an easement to cross other
neighboring properties. With no way into their property, the McClungs filed suit against Ayers,
alleging, alternatively, four theories supporting the finding of an easement. After the jury found
no easement, the McClungs‘ motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and new trial were
denied, and this appeal was filed, challenging the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to
support the jury‘s findings on each of the four grounds.
When a party challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support an adverse finding
on which he or she had the burden of proof, the party must show that the evidence establishes a
matter of law all vital facts in support of the issue. In re Estate of Steed, 152 S.W.3d 797, 806
3 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. denied) (citing Dow Chem. Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241
(Tex. 2001)). Evidence is legally sufficient if it ―would enable reasonable and fair-minded people
to reach the verdict under review.‖ City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005).
In evaluating the evidence‘s legal sufficiency, ―we credit evidence that supports the verdict if
reasonable jurors could, and disregard contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could not.‖
Kroger Tex. Ltd. P’ship v. Suberu, 216 S.W.3d 788, 793 (Tex. 2006) (citing Wilson, 168 S.W.3d at
827; Am. InterState Ins. Co. v. Hinson, 172 S.W.3d 108, 114 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2005, pet.
denied)). We sustain legal sufficiency challenges ―when, among other things, the evidence
offered to establish a vital fact does not exceed a scintilla.‖ Suberu, 216 S.W.3d at 793.
―Evidence does not exceed a scintilla if it is ‗so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise
or suspicion‘ that the fact exists.‖ Id. (quoting Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 601
(Tex. 2004)).
When a party attacks the factual sufficiency of an adverse finding on an issue on which it
has the burden of proof, it must demonstrate on appeal that the adverse finding is against the great
weight and preponderance of the evidence. Dow Chem. Co., 46 S.W.3d at 242. In determining
factual sufficiency, we must consider and weigh all of the evidence, and can set aside a verdict
only if the evidence is so weak or if the finding is so against the great weight and preponderance of
the evidence that it is clearly wrong and unjust. Id.; Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex.
1986); Croucher v. Croucher, 660 S.W.2d 55, 58 (Tex. 1983).
4 (1) Sufficient Evidence Supports the Jury’s Finding Against a Prescriptive Easement
The McClungs attack the jury‘s failure to find a prescriptive easement. As claimants
seeking to establish an easement by prescription, the McClungs must have shown that their use of
the Ayers land was: (1) open and notorious, (2) adverse to the owner‘s claim of right,
(3) exclusive, (4) uninterrupted, and (5) continuous for a period of ten years. See Toal v. Smith,
54 S.W.3d 431, 435 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, pet. denied). If there is a failure to establish any of
these essential elements by a preponderance of the evidence, the claim of easement cannot be
maintained. Brooks v. Jones, 578 S.W.2d 669, 674 (Tex. 1979). There is ample evidence that
the McClungs crossed the Ayers property openly for an uninterrupted period of more than ten
years. Though all issues are disputed, the primary issues are the elements of adversity and
exclusivity, elements that are closely related and thus discussed together.
Burdening another‘s property with a prescriptive easement is not well-regarded in the law.
Toal, 54 S.W.3d at 435. The hostile and adverse character of the use is the same as that necessary
to establish title by adverse possession. Id. One test to determine whether a claim is hostile is
whether the claimant‘s use, occupancy, and possession of the land is of such a nature and character
as to notify the true owner that the claimant is asserting a hostile claim. Mack v. Landry, 22
S.W.3d 524, 531 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.); Stallman v. Newman, 9 S.W.3d
243, 248 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. denied). Use by express or implied
permission, no matter how long continued, cannot ripen into an easement by prescription since
5 adverse use is lacking. Machala v. Weems, 56 S.W.3d 748, 760 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2001, no
pet.).
It has long been the law in Texas that, when a landowner and the claimant of an easement
both use the same way, the use by the claimant does not exclude the owner‘s use and therefore will
not be considered adverse. Brooks, 578 S.W.2d at 673; see also Vrazel v. Skrabanek, 725 S.W.2d
709, 711 (Tex. 1987). The easement claimant must exclude, or attempt to exclude, all other
persons, including the true property owner, from using the roadway. Stallman, 9 S.W.3d at 249.
Joint continuous use, without a legally adverse or hostile act, is not sufficient to establish a
prescriptive easement. Mack, 22 S.W.3d at 532; Vrazel, 725 S.W.2d at 709.
Here, Gene and Truman McClung testified that, despite decades of crossing the Ayers
property, the McClungs never asked for permission to do so. Buck‘s revocation letter says that
the McClungs have historically reached their property by crossing the Ayers land. However, one
of the McClungs‘ witnesses, Johnny Grubbs, who, on several occasions, had crossed the Ayers
property with the McClungs, testified that ―[the Ayerses] give us access to go through there, their
home,‖ and that the McClungs ―had permission from the lady, Ms. Ayers, all the time.‖ Ayers
testified that she, personally, allowed the McClungs to cross the property two or three times. In
the past, the McClungs ―would stop and ask‖ and speak to her father. She agreed that her family
was always gracious about letting the McClungs cross their property. There is no evidence that
the McClungs excluded or attempted to exclude other persons from using any roadway across the
6 Ayers property.
There is conflicting evidence regarding whether the McClungs were given permission to
cross the Ayers land. It is the function of the jury to pass on the weight of the evidence and the
credibility of the witnesses; and, where there is conflicting evidence, the jury verdict on such
matters is generally regarded as conclusive. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d at 827; see Lambright v. Trahan
322 S.W.3d 424, 430 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, pet. denied). This Court cannot substitute its
judgment for that of the jury. Id. The McClungs failed to prove a prescriptive easement as a
matter of law because there is more than a scintilla of evidence supporting the jury‘s finding that
the McClungs‘ use was permissive. Suberu, 216 S.W.3d at 793. The jury was free to believe
Ayers and Grubbs and to disbelieve the McClungs. Therefore, we are unable to say that the jury‘s
verdict is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Accordingly, we overrule
the points of error attacking the jury‘s finding that there was no prescriptive easement.
(2) Sufficient Evidence Supports the Jury’s Finding Against an Easement by Estoppel
The McClungs also assail the jury‘s failure to find an easement by estoppel. An easement,
as a general rule, is required to be in writing, under the statute of frauds. Machala, 56 S.W.3d at
756; see Kirk Kuykendall, Easements—Licenses—Statute of Frauds—Estoppel—Creation of
Easements by Oral Agreement, 13 BAYLOR L. REV. 180 (1961). An exception to this general rule
is the doctrine of easement by estoppel, a creature of equity designed to prevent injustice and
protect innocent parties from fraud. Machala, 56 S.W.3d at 756; Stallman, 9 S.W.3d at 247;
7 Shipp v. Stoker, 923 S.W.2d 100, 102 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1996, writ denied). This doctrine
is not clearly defined, and its application depends on the facts of each case. Machala, 56 S.W.3d
at 756; Drye v. Eagle Rock Ranch, Inc., 364 S.W.2d 196, 209 (Tex. 1962); Stallman, 9 S.W.3d at
246. The gravity of a judicial means of acquiring an interest in land of another solely by parol
requires that equitable estoppel be strictly applied1; Allen v. Allen, 280 S.W.3d 366, 381 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 2008, pet. denied) (citing Moore County v. Bergner, 526 S.W.2d 702, 706 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 1975, no writ)), and the estoppel ―should be certain, precise and clear.‖ Id.
(citing McAnally v. Friends of WCC, Inc., 113 S.W.3d 875, 879 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no
pet.)).
―The doctrine of easement by estoppel holds that the owner of the alleged servient estate
may be estopped to deny the existence of an easement by making representations that have been
acted upon by the owner of the alleged dominant estate.‖ Holden v. Weidenfeller, 929 S.W.2d
124, 131 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, writ denied). ―Three elements are necessary to the
creation of an easement by estoppel: (1) a representation communicated, either by word or
action, to the promisee; (2) the communication was believed; and (3) the promisee relied on the
communication.‖ 2 Id. (citing Storms v. Tuck, 579 S.W.2d 447, 452 (Tex. 1979)). ―These
1 The doctrine of easement by estoppel has not been applied with the same strictness and conclusiveness as easements by implication. See Drye, 364 S.W.2d at 209. 2 In North Clear Lake Development Corp. v. Blackstock, 450 S.W.2d 678 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1970, writ ref'd n.r.e.), the court, in finding an easement by estoppel, also considered the fact that improvements which had been made were permanent and substantial, that such improvements were open and obvious to the owner of the
8 elements apply at the time the communication creating the alleged easement is made.‖ Id. ―An
easement by estoppel, once created, is binding upon successors in title if reliance upon the
existence of the easement continues.‖ Id.
To establish the element of a representation, the McClungs rely solely on the legal fiction
of representation by silence. ―The principle of estoppel by silence arises where a person is under
a duty to another to speak, but refrains from doing so and thereby leads the other to act in reliance
on a mistaken understanding of the facts. The duty to speak does not arise until the silent party is
himself aware of the facts.‖ Storms, 579 S.W.2d at 452. The McClungs contend that the Ayers
family had a duty to speak and, because the Ayerses never attempted to stop them or require them
to stop and ask permission, that the Ayerses made a representation by silence.
Here, in their effort to establish a representation by silence, the McClungs undermine their
proof of the element of belief. In this case, Ayers testified that the McClungs would ―stop and
servient estate, that the servient estate had constructive notice of the activities of the dominant estate holders, and that such use and improvements had the tacit consent of the servient estate owners because there was no complaint made when the improvements were constructed. In Drye, the Texas Supreme Court noted that estoppel cases are not limited to situations involving money spent improving the servient estate, though this group does form a large part of the cases affixing easements appurtenant by estoppel. 364 S.W.2d at 210. It appears clear then that, in using this language, the Court did not intend to limit the application of the doctrine to only those situations where expenditures were made on the servient estate; it was merely recognizing that many cases did involve servient funds. The Austin court also requires the existence of a vendor/vendee relationship. Scott v. Cannon, 959 S.W.2d 712, 721 (Tex. App.—Austin 1998, pet. denied). We decline to require such an element in order to establish an easement by estoppel. In one of the first cases involving the question of easement by estoppel, the Texas Supreme Court outlined the elements necessary to establish such an easement, and nowhere in the opinion is a vendor/vendee relationship required. F.J. Harrison & Co. v. Boring & Kennard, 44 Tex. 255, 267–68 (1875). Since the Harrison case, the Texas Supreme Court has never required the existence of a vendor/vendee relationship in applying the doctrine of easement by estoppel. A review of Texas cases reveals that the holding in Scott has been rejected by those courts that have considered the question of the necessity of a vendor/vendee relationship to establish an easement by estoppel. See Murphy v. Long, 170 S.W.3d 621, 627–28 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005, pet. denied); see also Mack, 22 S.W.3d at 529–30) (discussing cases holding that vendor/vendee relationship not required).
9 ask‖ before using the road, and Grubbs testified that the McClungs had the Ayerses‘ permission to
use the road. Such testimony, along with the McClungs obtaining a permissive easement from
Buck after Ayers refused them access, allows the jury to infer that the McClungs did not believe
they had a legal right to use the road across the Ayers property. See Martin v. Cockrell, 335
S.W.3d 229, 238–41 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2010, no pet.) (―gentlemen‘s agreement‖ or ―friendly
neighborly permission‖ to use land does not support easement by estoppel).
There is also very little evidence of the element of reliance. Gene testified that, in the
1980s, he would mow the roadway. Gene has a trailer on the property, and Truman once moved a
trailer there as well. Both trailers, however, were moved there across Buck‘s property, not the
Ayers property.
The McClungs cite several cases in support of their argument, notably including Wallace v.
McKinzie, 869 S.W.2d 592 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1993, writ denied). In Wallace, the McKinzie
property was landlocked by the Wallace property. Id. at 594. Since they purchased the property
in 1920, the McKinzies used a specific road through the Wallace land to access their property
because it was the only access road. Id. After a specific conversation about the roadway
between A.D. McKinzie and Bert Wallace, A.D. cut brush near the road, tried to keep water from
running in the road, and improved his property. Id. at 595. A.D. explained that he reached an
agreement with another member of the Wallace family to place double locks on the gate in the road
that allowed both families access to the road. Id. There was no objection to the McKinzies using
10 the road. Id.
The McClungs also cite Holden, where a road was used for thirty-five years to reach
landlocked property before the servient owner tried to block access to the road. 929 S.W.2d 124.
The court held that an easement by estoppel was established because a prior deed implied that the
dominant property had the right to use the road, the dominant owner built a home and other major
improvements on his property, the dominant owner contributed to the maintenance of the road, and
there was testimony that the dominant owner was allowed to put his own lock on the road‘s gate.
In Exxon v. Schutzmaier, an easement by estoppel was found to exist where Browner and
his successors in interest spent significant cost and labor improving their landlocked property,
and, until a few years before suit was filed, mail carriers, school buses, and delivery vehicles used
the road. 537 S.W.2d 282 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 1976, no writ). In so holding, the court noted
that Browner previously obtained a 600-foot easement from Exxon for the express and sole
purpose of reaching the access road from which Exxon was presently trying to exclude Browner‘s
successor in interest, Schutzmaier.
These cases are distinguishable from the present case. Here, there is no representation
from the servient owner, be it via conversation, prior deeds or documents implying a right of use,
or actions such as allowing the servient owner to put his own lock on an access gate. While the
jury is free to infer a representation by silence, they are likewise free not to do so. Similarly, the
dominant owners in the above cases took significant actions in reliance, such as significantly
11 improving their property and/or the road, whereas here, the McClungs had two trailers and utility
access on their property, but both were placed there not across the disputed roadway or the Ayers
land, but across different neighboring properties. There is no evidence that the McClung property
was purchased with the understanding that the McClungs could use a road across what would
become the Ayers land. In this case, there is evidence indicating that the McClungs did not
believe they had a right to use the road, because there is testimony that they always ―stopped and
asked,‖ even though Gene characterized it as a courtesy.
Based on this record, the McClungs have failed to meet their burden on appeal regarding
their challenges to the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence. See Wilson, 168 S.W.3d at
827. There is conflicting evidence regarding the existence or nonexistence of a representation,
belief, and reliance on such belief. Therefore, the McClungs have failed to prove an easement by
estoppel as a matter of law. Likewise, we cannot say that the jury‘s failure to find an easement by
estoppel is so weak or so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that it is
clearly wrong and unjust. See Dow Chem., 46 S.W.3d at 242. Accordingly, we overrule the
McClungs‘ challenges intended to obtain an easement by estoppel.
(3) Sufficient Evidence Supports the Jury’s Finding Against an Easement by Necessity
The McClungs further argue that the jury‘s failure to find an easement by necessity was
error, based on legal and factual sufficiency grounds.
Texas caselaw establishes that, when a grantor conveys part of a tract of land while
12 retaining the remaining acreage for himself or herself, there is an implied reservation of a right of
way by necessity on the land conveyed, when no other access exists. Bains v. Parker, 182 S.W.2d
397 (Tex. 1944). In order to establish an implied easement by necessity, a party must establish
(1) unity of ownership of the dominant and servient estates before severance,3 (2) the necessity of
a roadway, and (3) existence of the necessity when the estates were severed. Koonce v. Brite
Estate, 663 S.W.2d 451, 452 (Tex. 1984); Machala, 56 S.W.3d at 755; Daniel v. Fox, 917 S.W.2d
106, 111 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, writ denied). The way of necessity must be more than
one of convenience; in other words, if the owner of the land can use another way, he or she cannot
claim an easement by implication. Duff v. Matthews, 311 S.W.2d 637, 640 (Tex. 1958);
Machala, 56 S.W.3d at 755.
The McClungs argue that there was a necessity at the time of patenting, that is, when the
common owner, Texas, severed the properties into two different surveys. The McClung land was
patented in 1896, as part of the Doxey Survey. The Ayers land was patented thirty-six years
earlier, in 1860. There is no evidence that a road was necessary in 1860 or 1896.
The McClungs have failed to establish as a matter of law the requisite elements of an
easement by necessity. Further, the jury‘s determination that the McClungs did not establish such
3 At trial and here on appeal, the McClungs argue that the State of Texas is the previous common owner of the two tracts. Other than the State, no common owner, before or at the time of severance, appears in the evidence. The McClungs do not cite any caselaw to support their argument that the State may be used as a prior common owner, and we are aware of none. However, the jury instructions at trial stated that ―the Court has previously determined that there was a previous unity of ownership of the dominant and servient estates.‖ The McClungs failed to object to the instruction at trial, so we must accept the trial court‘s finding.
13 requisite elements was not so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be
manifestly wrong and unjust. We overrule the points of error regarding an easement by
necessity.4
(4) Sufficient Evidence Supports the Jury’s Finding Against an Easement by Implication
Finally, the McClungs argue that the jury‘s failure to find an easement by implication was
not supported by the evidence. An easement may be implied from what ―a grantor and grantee
must have intended had they both given the obvious facts of the transaction proper consideration.‖
Drye, 364 S.W.2d at 207. An easement implied from prior use requires (1) unity of ownership of
the dominant and servient estates when the estates are severed and (2) that the dominant estate‘s
use of the servient estate was continuous, apparent at the time the estates were severed, and
(3) reasonable necessity of the easement to the use and enjoyment of the land granted. See
Bickler v. Bickler, 403 S.W.2d 354, 357 (Tex. 1966); Daniel, 917 S.W.2d at 110.
The points of error regarding an easement by implication suffer from similar deficiencies
as those regarding an easement by necessity. There is no evidence that the McClungs‘ use of the
Ayers property was continuous or apparent at the time the estates were severed, nor is there
evidence that the use was reasonably necessary at that time in order to enjoy the McClung land.
The jury was within its province not to infer such facts or conclusions from the evidence presented
at trial. Accordingly, we overrule the points of error relative to an easement by implication.
4 A 1964 United States Geologic Survey map shows what appears to be a road going through the Ayers property in the same approximate location as the road to which the McClungs now claim an easement. While one could argue that the jury could infer that a road was necessary at that time, the jury was also free not to do so.
14 We affirm the judgment.
Josh R. Morriss, III Chief Justice
Date Submitted: September 28, 2011 Date Decided: October 25, 2011