Socony Mobil Oil Co. v. Cottle

143 N.E.2d 265, 336 Mass. 192
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court·Decided June 5, 1957·Published·Cited by 11 cases

Opinion

Counihan, J.

This is a bill in equity in the Land Court for a declaratory decree under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 231A, inserted by St. 1945, c. 582, § 1. Primarily the plaintiff seeks a determination of the existence of easements in a right of way and in a so called “reserved area” on its land for the benefit of the defendant. The plaintiff also seeks an injunction and damages.

A final decree was entered declaring that the easements in the passageway and the “reserved area” were “in full force and effect” and that the “land of plaintiff, Socony Mobil Oil Company, Inc. is still subject to said easements” (emphasis supplied). The plaintiff appealed from this decree. We are of opinion that there was error.

The judge made “Findings, Rulings and Order for Decree.” The evidence is not reported in its entirety but the judge designated portions of the testimony to be printed as part of the record. Rule 2 of the Rules for the Regulation of Practice before the Full Court (1952), 328 Mass. 693. In these circumstances it is our duty to examine such testimony and decide the issues according to our judgment as to the facts and the law, giving due weight to the findings of the judge which will not be reversed unless plainly wrong. LeBlanc v. Molloy, 335 Mass. 636.

The facts found by the judge and by us may be summarized as follows: In 1926 the Curtis & Pope Lumber Co., hereinafter called Curtis & Pope, owned a parcel of land at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street in Boston. On July 27, 1926, it conveyed part of this land [194] containing 5,945 square feet and bounded on Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street to the Standard Oil Company of New York, hereinafter called Standard. The parcel sold and part of its remaining land are shown on a plan recorded with Suffolk registry of deeds, book 4821, page 203. On the same day the parties to the conveyance entered into an indenture the material parts of which read: . . the party of the first part does hereby covenant with the party of the second part that so long as the party of the second part or its successors or assigns shall maintain a garage on the site of said existing garage and use the same as such solely for motor vehicles used for the purposes of the business carried on by it or them on said remaining land of the party of the second part . . . the party of the first part will not build upon or in any manner obstruct that portion of the granted premises indicated and marked ‘Reserved Area’ on said plan. And for the consideration aforesaid [it] does hereby grant and convey unto the party of the second part and its successors and assigns full and free right and liberty for it and their officers, agents and servants at all times to pass and repass over, on foot and with motor vehicles, but not with horses or horse-drawn vehicles, for such purposes as are or may be connected with the use of its remaining land, and as appurtenant thereto, that portion of the granted premises thirteen (13) feet in width, adjoining the remaining land of the party of the second part, indicated and marked ‘Right of Way’ and that portion of said granted premises indicated and marked ‘Reserved Area’ on said plan, so long as the party of the second part or its successors or assigns shall maintain a garage on the site of said existing garage and use the same as such solely for motor vehicles used for the purposes of the business carried on by it or them on such remaining land of the party of the second part.”

This indenture with a plan attached was subsequently recorded by Curtis & Pope in the Suffolk registry of deeds in book 4842, page 269. On April 7, 1943, Curtis & Pope conveyed its remaining land with a frontage of 42.67 feet on Albany Street to the defendant and another as trustees. [195] How the defendant acquired sole title does not appear, but in our view of the case it is immaterial because not argued by either party. This conveyance was “Subject to and with the benefit of the terms and conditions” of said indenture.

Prior to the sale of the land to Standard, Curtis & Pope had occupied a brick building on this land at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street as its main office. There was also a stucco building on Albany Street and a two car brick garage in the rear of it. Before the sale two executives of Curtis & Pope used this garage in which to park their automobiles when they came to the office. They continued this practice until 1931.

After the sale Curtis & Pope moved its office to the other side of Massachusetts Avenue in a building it owned there. When this building was taken by the city of Boston for hospital purposes in 1931 Curtis & Pope moved its office to “South Bay ... off Southampton Street.” The executives then ceased to park their automobiles in the garage. For a year or so Curtis & Pope stored lumber, which it sold at retail, in the stucco building and in the garage. There was no evidence of any use of the garage from 1932 to 1935.

In 1936 a man ran a machine shop and welding business in the stucco building which was torn down in 1937. He used the garage for minor welding jobs. From 1938 to 1945 one Salmonson used the garage for supplying automobiles with slip covers and upholstery. In 1946 one Gross bought out Salmonson and carried on the business of repairing the tops and upholstery of automobiles. He used the garage for his repair work and the front of the lot for advertising and parking his own and customers’ automobiles.

On October 15, 1954, the plaintiff notified Gross that he was wrongfully using the passageway and the “reserved area” and requested him to discontinue such use. This suit was instituted on December 23, 1954.

The judge found that the defendant contended that the easements in the passageway and the “reserved area” still existed in her favor and that the plaintiff contended that [196] the easements were terminated. He also found and we agree that an actual controversy had arisen between the plaintiff and the defendant.

The judge further stated that “In the light of all the circumstances, taking the instrument as a whole, I find the business carried on by [the] defendant, its predecessors, lessees or agents, and use made of the 'garage’ in carrying on such business was within the intended activity provided for by said indenture; that there have not been sufficient acts shown to warrant finding a breach of the terms and conditions set forth therein.” We are of opinion that this finding was erroneous.

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Socony Mobil Oil Co. v. Cottle, 143 N.E.2d 265, 336 Mass. 192 (Mass. 1957).

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