Stark v. Equitable Gas Company, LLC

116 A.3d 760, 2015 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 209

• Court: Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: May 14, 2015
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION BY

President Judge DAN PELLEGRINI.

Equitable Gas Company, LLC, incorrectly named as Equitable Gas, LLC, a division of Equitable Resources (Equitable), appeals the order of the Westmore-land County Court of Common Pleas (trial court) overruling its preliminary objections to the Petition for the Appointment of Viewers Alleging a DeFacto Taking (Petition) filed by David and Kathleen Stark (collectively, Landowners). We affirm.

In September 1983, Landowners acquired a parcel of property (Stark 1) in North Huntingdon Township (Township), Westmoreland County (County), near the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Carpenter Lane. (Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 69a). The description of the parcel in the deed begins “at a point on the Westerly right-of-way line of U.S. Route 30, at the Northeast corner of lands now or formerly of George Scheffle,” and describes its west boundary line as starting at “a point, said point being the Northerly right-of-way line of an unnamed street 40 feet wide;

[1] thence along the Northerly line of the unnamed street a distance of 201.16 feet to a point on the Northerly line of lands now or formerly of George Scheffle-” (Id.). The chain of title of the Stark 1 parcel in deeds from 1971, 1975 and 1982 also describe the west boundary line of the property as along “the Northerly right of way line of an unnamed street having a 40-foot right of way....” (Id. at 79a, 83a, 87 a).

In July 1992, Norwin School District (School District) owned the adjoining parcel of property and granted Equitable a right-of-way for the construction of and ingress and egress to a 10-inch gas pipeline to be buried “along the eastern edge of [the School Districtj’s 40 foot wide private road.... ” (R.R. at 46a).² In January 2007, Landowners acquired the School District’s adjoining parcel by deed (Stark 2) with the north boundary line described as “BEGINNING at a point at the northwest corner of property deeded to [Landowners] and the center of an unopened 40 foot street and south right-of-line of Carpenter Lane (SR 4019); thence from said point of beginning along the south right-of-way line of Carpenter Lane and line of [the School District] South 72° 12' 12" West a distance of24.37' ....’’(Id. at96a).

In July 2007, Landowners hired Dennis Dull (Dull) to complete a survey of their properties. Dull determined that Equitable’s pipeline had been installed on the Stark 1 parcel because he determined that the western boundary of that parcel extended to the center line of the paper street. As a result, in 2009, Landowners filed a trespass action against Equitable and then, in February 2013, filed the instant Petition alleging- a de facto taking and seeking the appointment of a Board of Viewers.³ In April 2013, the trial court issued an order appointing a three-member Board of Viewers.

In August 2013, Equitable filed preliminary objections to the Petition arguing that it should be dismissed because; (1) Landowners maintained a separate trespass action while pursuing the instant action under the former Eminent Domain Code;⁴ (2) Landowners failed to state a claim for a de facto taking because they were not the record owners of the property when the pipeline was laid in 1992; (3) Landowners’ action is time barred by the five-year statute of limitations in the former Section 5526(4) of the Judicial Code;⁵ and (4) assuming Landowners had an interest in the property, they failed to state a de facto taking of their entire property.

At hearing, Landowners withdrew their trespass action. (R.R. at 107a-108a). Dull was qualified as an expert in surveying, but he could not offer a legal opinion on the ownership of paper streets or the meaning of the Stark 1 deed.⁶ He testified that he was hired to survey and lay out the property lines for the Stark 1 parcel because Landowners wanted to add a building and a parking lot to their property. He stated that he obtained the deed from the early 1980s which matched a survey that was done in 1961; deeds for the adjoining properties; the tax map; and a survey that the School District had made.

Dull testified that the property lines of Stark 1 and Stark 2 went to the center of the paper street so that an area of 20-feet long by 200-feet wide of the paper street was on each parcel. (R.R. at 126a-127a). He stated that the boundary for Stark 1 went to the center line of the paper street and that the gas line was placed on the Stark 1 parcel in 1992. {Id. at 140a-142a). He testified that one of the deeds refers to a private road and others referred to an unopened road, and he did not find anything showing that it was intended to be turned over to the Township at any time. (Id. at 146a, 147a).

Dull conceded that each of the 1971, 1975, 1982 and 1983 deeds described the west boundary of the Stark 1 parcel as the northerly line of the paper street so that the gas pipeline as outlined was not laid within the parcel. (R.R. at 148a-154a). However, he testified that the 1983 deed stated that the boundary for the Stark 1 parcel was 180 feet from the westerly side of Route 30, and when he measured 180 feet as called for in the deed, the boundary line fell in the center line of the paper street so his field evidence shows that the deed is incorrect. (Id. at 154a-155a, 161a-162a, 172a-173a).⁷ He stated that the metes and bounds show that the boundary of the Stark 1 parcel went to the center of the paper street, and that the original tax map also showed that the boundary went to the center of the street. (Id. at 162a). He testified that he never found any evidence of a dedication of the paper street. (Id. at 146a, 174a).

In December 2013, the trial court issued an order: (1) overruling the preliminary objection that Ldhdowners were not the record owners at the time of the taking because Dull “presented compelling evidence based upon actual measurements made in the field, that [Landowners] owned property up to the center line of the unopened road at the time [Equitablejs gas line was installed;” (2) overruling the preliminary objection based on the statute of limitations “in that [Landowners’] cause of action is governed by the 21-year statute of limitations set forth in [the former Section 5530(a)(3) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5530(a)(3) (repealed by the Act of May 4, 2006, P.L. 112) (imposing a 21-year statute of limitations for “[a] proceeding in inverse condemnation, if property has been taken and the condemnor had not made payment in accordance with section 407(a) or (b) (relating to possession and payment of compensation)” of the former Eminent Domain Code) ];” and (3) overruling the preliminary objection that Landowners failed to state a de facto taking of their entire property “in that the extent of the taking and the damages resulting are matters to be determined by the Board of Viewers.” (Trial Court 12/17/13 Order; R.R. at 2Í6a-217a). The trial court also directed the Board of Viewers appointed in April 2013 to determine the amount of damages that Landowners sustained. (Id.).

On appeal,⁸ Equitable argues⁹ that the trial court erred in overruling its preliminary objections because its finding that the boundary of the Stark 1 parcel extended to the middle of the paper street is not supported by competent evidence and Landowners’ claim is time-barred because they failed to show that they owned the property on which the pipeline was laid in 1992. We do not agree.

As indicated above, the 2007 deed by which the School District conveyed the Stark 2 parcel to Landowners describes the north boundary line as “BEGINNING at a point at the northwest comer of property deeded to [.Landowners in Stark 1 ] and the center of an unopened 40 foot street and south right-of-line of Carpenter Lane (SR 4019); thence from said point of beginning along the south right-of-way line of Carpenter Lane and line of [the School District] South 72° 12' 12" West a distance of 24.37'.... ” (R.R. at 96a) (emphasis added). Dull corroborated the foregoing boundary line because he testified that the 1983 deed stated that the boundary for the Stark 1 parcel was 180 feet from the westerly side of Route 30, and that when he measured 180 feet as called for in the deed, the boundary line fell in the center line of the paper street. (Id. at 154a-155a, 161a-162a, 172a-173a). He stated that the metes and bounds show that the boundary of the Stark 1 parcel went to the center of the papér street, and that the original tax map also showed that the boundary went to the center of the street. (Id. at 162a). Moreover, it is undisputed that Equitable buried the gas line “along the easterly edge of the [School District’s 40 foot wide private road.... ” (Id. at 46a). (See also Supplemental Reproduced Record at lb; Plaintiffs Exhibit 3).

Based on the foregoing, there is ample competent evidence supporting the trial court’s findings that the boundary for the Stark 1 and Stark 2 parcels extended to the center of the paper street and that Equitable buried the gas line on Landowners’ Stark 1 parcel in 1992. We simply will not accede to Equitable’s request that we reweigh the conflicting evidence that was presented to the trial court showing a different boundary line. As a result, the trial court also did not err in determining that Landowners’ Petition was not time-barred.¹⁰

Accordingly, the trial court’s order is affirmed.

Judge BERNARD L. McGINLEY did not participate in the decision of this case.

ORDER

AND NOW, this Uth day of May, 2015, the order of the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas dated December* 17, 2013, at No. 2013-597, is affirmed.

1. As it has been explained:

A "monument,” when used in describing land, has been defined as "any physical object on the ground which helps to establish the location of the line called for and the term ‘monument,' when used with reference to boundaries, indicates a permanent object which may be either a natural or artificial one.... Natural monuments include such natural objects as mountains, streams, rivers, creeks, springs, trees.... Artificial objects and monuments consist of marked lines, stakes, rocks, fences, buildings and similar matters marked or placed on the ground by the hand of man.” It has been said that "a stone wall is strong evidence of a boundary line.fj” One court has said that a monument, when used in describing land, is “any physical object on the ground which helps to establish the location of the line called for,” whether it be natural or artificial. That court noted that, just as in contracts or wills, the intention of the parties governs the interpretation of deeds and that it is for that reason "that monuments named in deeds are given precedence over courses and distances, because the parties can see the tree, stone, stake, pipe or whatever it may be, which is referred to in the deed, but would require equipment and expert assistance to find a course and distance.” “[Tjhe physical disappearance of a monument does not terminate its status as a boundary marker, provided that its former location can be ascertained through extrinsic evidence.”

Koennicke v. Maiorano, 43 Conn.App. 1, 682 A.2d 1046, 1053-54 (1996) (citations omitted).

2 . The recorded conveyance stated the following, in pertinent part:

IN CONSIDERATION of ... SIX HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS ($620.00) to it this day in hand paid, being the true and full consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, [School District], its successors or assigns, ... hereinafter called the Grantor, hereby grant with covenant of general warranty to [Equitable], its successors or assigns, ... hereinafter called the Grantee, a right-of-way upon which to lay, maintain, operate, replace with the same or other size pipe, and remove a pipeline of ten (10) inches in diameter, together with necessary ... other equipment with their housing above or below ground level for such purposes as are deemed necessary by the Grantee, including the right to install, maintain, and replace on said pipeline devices for cathodic protection, text stations, and bonding cables and to construct, maintain, operate, replace and remove communication lines and other communication facilities owned by Grantee, together with equipment appurtenant thereto, on, over and through that certain tract of land situate in the [Township] ... bounded by lands now or formerly of Carpenter Lane, Route 30.

The said pipeline to be laid approximately along the route laid out and marked for same as follows:

Beginning at a point of interconnection with [Equitable’s] proposed ten (10) inch pipeline to be laid in Carpenter Lane; thence extending-in a general northerly direction a distance of 600 feet, more or less; along the eastern edge of Grantor’s 40 foot wide private road to a point; thence extending in a general westerly direction, a distance of 20 feet; more or less, to the land of Balias to the west....

TOTAL DISTANCE: 620 feet, more or less.

TOGETHER with the right of ingress and egress to and from said right-of-way by routes most convenient to the Grantee for the purposes granted herein....

The said pipe shall be buried upon the cultivated portions of said land so that it will not interfere with the cultivation of the same. '

The said right-of-way shall be held so long as the same may be useful or necessary for the purposes of the grantee.

ALL the terms and conditions of this right-of-way grant shall extend to and be binding upon the respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto....

(R.R. at 46a-47a).

3 .Specifically, Landowners alleged the following, in pertinent part:

4.On or about July 30, 1992, [Equitable] was acquiring property in order to construct an underground gas line.

5. [Equitable] contacted [Landowners] in order to amicably acquire an easement across a portion of the Property.

6. On or about November 18, 1992, [Equitable] informed [Landowners] that it no longer required the easement because it had acquired an alternative route.

7. On or about July 2007, in an effort to develop the Property, [Landowners] hired Dennis Dull Land Surveying to survey their property.

8. Dennis Dull discovered that [Equitable] placed the gas line on [Landowners]’ property and not on the property they [sic] intended.

9. At no point in time did [Landowners] give [Equitable] the right to place its gas line on their property.

10. [Equitable] has/had no right to place its gas line on [Landowners]’ Property.

11. By placing its gas line on [Landowners]’ Property, [Equitable] has effectuated a defacto [sic] taking of [Landowners]’ Property.

12. The damage suffered by [Landowners] is the immediate, necessary and unavoidable consequence of the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

13. By placing the gas line on [Landowners]’ Property, [Equitable] has deprived [Landowners] of all use and enjoyment of their Property.

(R.R. at 5a).

4 . Act of June 22, 1964, Special Sess., P.L. 84, as amended, 26 P.S. §§ 1-101-1-903, repealed by Act of May 4, 2006, P.L. 112, as amended, 26 Pa.C.S. §§ 101-1106.

5 . 42 Pa.C.S. § 5526(4) (repealed by the Act of May 4, 2006, P.L. 112). Section 5526(4) formerly imposed a five-year statute of limitations in "[a] proceeding in inverse condemnation, if property has been injured but no part thereof has been taken, or if the condemnor has made payment in accordance with section 407(a) or (b) (relating to possession and payment of compensation) of the [former Eminent Domain Code].”

6 . Because of the way we resolve this matter, we need not address whether this is a paper street — dedicated but not accepted as a public street — or, if it is, what impact it has on ownership of the street. However, we note the law in Pennsylvania regarding ownership of streets is well settled: "Upon a conveyance of land bounded by a street, unless otherwise provided, the grantee takes to the middle of the street, if the grantor owns thus far, subject to the public easement; and when the street is vacated, this portion of it reverts to the grantee.” Barnes v. Philadelphia, Newtown & New York Railroad Company, 21 Pa.Super. 84, 86 (1905) (citations omitted). Moreover, when a street is accepted, the municipality only receives a right to use the public right-of-way for public purposes, and title to property abutting on a public street extends to the center of that street and is vested in the adjoining landowner. City of Scranton v. People’s Coal Co., 256 Pa. 332, 100 A. 818 (1917); Lockhart v. Craig Street Railway Co., 139 Pa. 419, 21 A. 26 (1891); Gramlich v. Lower Southampton Township, 838 A.2d 843 (Pa.Cmwlth.2003), appeal denied, 578 Pa. 696, 851 A.2d 143 (2004). See also Miller v. Nichols, 363 Pa.Super. 508, 526 A.2d 794, appeal denied, 517 Pa. 608, 536 A.2d 1332 (1987); Hindin v. Samuel, 158 Pa.Super. 539, 45 A.2d 370 (1946).

7 . As the Superior Court has explained:

"The rule that artificial monuments control courses and distances in case of conflict is not an imperative and exclusive one, but is a rule of construction to ascertain, or to aid in determining, the intention of the parties; and it is not followed where strict adherence to the call for a monument would lead to a construction plainly inconsistent with such intention.

"Accordingly, courses and distances will prevail over monuments where absurd consequences might ensue by giving controlling influence to a call for the latter, or where, in any given case, a consideration of all the facts and circumstances shows a call for distance to be, the more reliable or certain, or where the call for the monument was inserted by mistake or inadvertence.”

Baker v. Roslyn Swim Club, 206 Pa.Super. 192, 213 A.2d 145, 149 (1965) (citation omitted). See also J.R. Howarth v. Miller, 382 Pa. 419, 115 A.2d 222, 224 (1955) ("[A]lthough monuments are very important in determining questions of boundary, '[w]here monuments are doubtful, resort will be had to the courses, distances, and quantity.' ”) (citation' omitted); Hall-Mark Realty Corp. v. McGunnigle, 253 N.Y. 395, 398, 171 N.E. 583, 584 (1930) ("When the line of another tract is called for in the description of a deed as one of the boundaries of the land conveyed, the line ordinarily < runs to such boundary line. When such line is certain and notorious, it is to be treated as the monument or boundary rather than the ambiguous location of the center of a paper street which need not be taken as a monument or permanent landmark for the purpose of fixing the boundary line in this case.”)

8 . In an eminent domain case disposed of on preliminary objections to a claim for a de facto taking, our scope of review is limited to determining whether the trial court’s necessary findings of fact are supported by competent evidence and whether an error of law or an abuse of discretion was committed. Nolen v. Newtown Township, 854 A.2d 705, 708 n. 5 (Pa.Cmwlth.2004). In an eminent domain proceeding, the factfinder is to resolve conflicts in' the evidence and not the reviewing court. Harborcreek Township v. Ring, 48 Pa.Cmwlth. 542, 410 A.2d 917, 919 (1980). Inconsistencies in evidence only go to evidentia-ry weight and not to its competence. In re Petition of Viola, 838 A.2d 21, 27 (Pa.Cmwlth.2003). Finally, “[i]t is well established that the actual location of property boundary lines is a question of fact.” Pennsylvania Game Commission v. K.D. Miller Lumber Company, 654 A.2d 6, 10 (Pa.Cmwlth.1994), appeal denied, 540 Pa. 643, 659 A.2d 561 (1995).

9 . Equitable raises an additional claim of error, but acknowledges that it was not a basis upon which the trial court relied in ruling on the preliminary objections. Because we affirm on the basis upon with the trial court relied, we will not address this issue.

10 . See, e.g., Appeal of Krauss, 151 Pa.Cmwlth. 619, 618 A.2d 1070, 1072 (1992) ("Section 5530(a)(3) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5530(a)(3) [ (repealed) ] requires that an action for a de facto taking be commenced within twenty-one years. If the evidence supports the trial court’s findings that a de facto taking has occurred, this provision of the Judicial Code applies.”) (citation omitted).