Lindsey v. Clark

Facts

In 1937, the Clarks were the owners of four adjoining lots, nos. 31, 32, 33, and 34, each lot fronting Magnolia avenue and running back therefrom for 150 feet to a 20 feet alley. The Clark residence was on lots 31 and 32. Then, in 1937, the Clarks conveyed to Mr. and Mrs. Six (Mrs. Six being Clarks’ daughter) the front two-thirds of lots 33 and 34, which was a frontage of 50 feet and extending back 100 feet. On the rear one-third of these lots Clark built a house and garage for rental purposes. The Six’s built a house on their property (the front two-thirds of lots 33 and 34). The Clark deed to the Sixes contained the following reservation: “There is reserved, however, a right of way of ten (10) feet in width, along the South side of the two lots herein conveyed for the benefit of the property in the rear.” In 1939 the Sixes conveyed their property to the McGhees, with the reservation in the deed. Then, the McGhees conveyed the property to the Plaintiffs without the reservatio n listed in the deed. Clark began using the North side of lots 33 and 34, with no explanation, and despite the deed’s reservation of a right of way along the South side of the property. This was used by Clark without objection from the Sixes or the McGhees, and not by the Lindseys until a few months before the lawsuit was brought. There was evidence presented at trial that Clark stood on the North side of lots 33 and 34 and stated that he was reserving that as a right of way. When the McGhees bought the property the Sixes pointed out the driveway to the North, but of course the deed stated the reservation to be to the South. The Lindseys wrote to Clark, by their attorney, and objected to the right of way being used for parking, but not of its location. Then, three years later, the Plaintiffs had their attorney write to Clark again to complain that the reservation was along the South side of the property, not the North. The Plaintiffs wrote in that letter that they intended to erect a fence. At trial the Plaintiffs contend that Clark has no right of way across their property because none was reserved on the North side of the property and because the one on the South side had been abandoned. The trial court held that the right of way had not been abandoned. The Plaintiffs appealed.