Suttle v. Bailey

Facts

In 1937 Dickason and wife owned a tract of land which was then added to Albuquerque and subdivided with restrictive covenants placed thereon. The restrictions were intended to restrict the use of land to residential housing only. The last sentence of the restriction stated that the covenants were to end in January 1970, except that it was mutually understood that the restrictions could be altered or amended at any time prior to January 1970 by the grantor, his successors and assigns, and any owner of any lot at the time of the proposed amendment to the restrictions. The amendment or alteration with one owner of one lot by the grantor would be permitted to occur without requiring the consent of the adjacent property owners. The Plaintiffs are two owners of lots in the addition and the Defendants are purchasing two of the adjoining lots from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, who now own the lots to be purchased. The contract for purchase provides that the property is being sold subject to th e restrictions. The Defendants have placed an office building nearer to the property line than allowed and have begun construction of an insulation business. The Plaintiffs sued to enjoin the use of the land by the Defendants as being disallowed by the restrictive covenants. The lower court granted the injunction. Defendants appealed.