Shields v. Titus

46 Ohio St. (N.S.) 528
Ohio Supreme Court·Decided October 29, 1889·Published

Opinion

Williams, J.

The issues of fact were found by the court of common pleas in favor of the plaintiff. No bill of exceptions was taken, nor was there any finding of facts by that court. The only question therefore before the circuit court, was whether the pleadings were sufficient to sustain the judgment ; and that is the only question here. The contention of the defendant is, that the petition does not state any right in the plaintiff to the way in controversy, and, if it does, then that no violation of the right is shown, of which equity will take cognizance.

[538]*5381. In respect to the right of the plaintiff to the way, it appears that the person from whom the parties derive title to their lands, owned in connection therewith, other lands, which together constituted one tract. When he subdivided the tract, and sold the parcels now belonging to the plaintiff, and the defendant, and other parcels of the subdivision, he opened and constructed the way in question, “.for the purpose of affording means of access to the several tracts sold, for the benefit of the grantees', their heirs and assigns, and of all persons wishing to travel the same to reach the landand also, to enable him to get to and from those portions of the land retained by him. Ever since, and during a period of twenty-five years next preceding the commencement of the action, the way so laid out and constructed, has been “ used, traveled over, and occupied for the purpose of reaching the several pieces of land, with the assent, acquiescence, and agreement of the grantor, and his several grantees and their assigns,” to whom the premises, over which the way ran, were conveyed. The respective owner’s of the lands on which the way was located, “ for the purpose of settling definitely its width and exact location, mutually agreed between and among themselves that the way should be thirty feet wide, its entire length ;” and thereupon, by virtue of the agreement, they built their fences so as to leave the way open as agreed upon, and thereafter constructed ditches and bridges, and otherwise improved it as a roadway. While the way was so opened, improved, and in actual use, the plaintiff, by purchase from one of the parties to the agreement alluded to, became the owner of one of the tracts of land embraced in the agreement, and the defendant purchased another of the parcels over which the way was so located, opened and used, from a proprietor who was also party to the agreement. It further appears, that the defendant purchased with knowledge of the existence of the way; and of the agreement made by his vendor with the other proprietors, and, that he bought his parcel “ subject to the perpetual right of the plaintiff and the several owners of the other tracts, their heirs, and assigns, to use, enjoy, occupy and travel over the way, its entire length, with wagons, vehicles and other conveyances.”

[539]*539There can be but little doubt that the way, as originally established by the owner of the entire tract for the benefit of the parcels conveyed by him to purchasers, became an easement appurtenant to the lands granted, and not merely personal to the grantees. It was established for the beneficial use and enjoyment of the premises conveyed, and, was a burden imposed upon each parcel for the more complete and convenient use of the others. Each parcel, for the purposes of the way ■over it, became servient to the others, and they, in turn, were subject to a like servitude for its benefit.

The exact location a nil width of the way, so made appurtenant to their lands, were definitely settled by the mutual agreement of the owners, who placed their fences to the lines agreed upon, and thereafter improved and used it without objection. Such was the condition of the way when the plaintiff and defendant purchased their lands, and such, it continued to be, down to the time of its threatened interruption by the defendant. It was then, not simply a way of necessity, limited in duration by the necessity which originally gave rise to it, but became permanently appurtenant to the principal estates; and, under the well settled rule, each purchaser took his land with all the rights his grantor had with respect to it, and burdened with the servitudes he imposed upon it. As was said by Mr. Justice Story in Hazzard v. Robinson, 3 Mason, 279, “Whatever is actually enjoyed with the thing granted, as a beneficial privilege at the time of the grant, passes as parcel of it.” A way is'appendant or •appurtenant to other lands, when it is granted for the convenience of their occupation without respect to the ownership or number of occupants. In such case, the right-of-way passes with the dominant estate as au incident thereto. Boatman v. Lasley, 23 Ohio St. 614. Where an easement is secured to -a dominant estate, and is designed to benefit the same in whosoever hands it may be, it will, as a general proposition, inure to the benefit of the owner of any part of thp same into which it may be divided, provided the burden upon the ■servient estate intended to be created is not thereby enhanced.” Washburn on Easements, 99. True, the terms [540]*540of the grant by which the plaintiff acquired his title, are not set out, nor is it averred that the right-of-way was granted in express language, or by the use of the word “ appurtenances”. It is averred, however, that he purchased the land, and is in possession thereof and the owner in fee,” which, we think, must be construed as being equivalent to an allegation of the grant of the fee simple estate in the land to him. And it is the established rule in this state, that the appurtenances to property pass with it, upon its alienation, without the use of the term privilege or appurtenance in the conveyance. Morgan v. Mason, 20 Ohio St. 401. In the case cited above-it was held that a right-of-way, or other easement appurtenant to land,' passed by a grant of the land, without any mention being made of the easement in the conveyance, and though neither the term appurtenance, or its equivalent be employed.

Neither is the defendant in any better position than his grantor ; for, a grant of the servient estate, carries with it the burdens imposed upon it by the grantor, and the grantee takes it with all those burdens which appear, at the time of" the sale, to belong to it. Washburn on Easements, 90. It not only appears, that at the time the defendant bought his land, the easement was apparent and in actual use, so that he might properly be charged with notice of its existence, but it is plainly alleged, that he bought with knowledge of it, and of all the facts relating to its establishment, and subject to it. These parties therefore, stand in the shoes of their respective vendors, and hold their lands with the qualities and burdens-impressed upon them at the time of their purchase.

Granting this to be so, it is nevertheless contended by the plaintiff in error, that the agreement concerning the establishment of the way, is invalid, because it was verbal, and without consideration, and therefore ineffectual to create a servitude upon his land. Without stopping to consider whether, if the contract were^verbal only, it would on that account be inoperative, notwithstanding its long recognition by the parties to it, and. their performance of it, it is sufficient to say. that this ground of objection to the contract no where appears in the record. [541]*541It is true, the petition does not allege that the contract was in writing.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Shields v. Titus, 46 Ohio St. (N.S.) 528 (Ohio 1889).

46 Ohio St. (N.S.) 528 (Shields v. Titus) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Tallmadge v. . the East River Bank
26 N.Y. 105 (New York Court of Appeals, 1862)
Davenport v. New England Mutual Fire Insurance
60 Mass. 340 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1850)
Morgan v. Mason
20 Ohio St. 401 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1851)