Springer v. Cahoy

#26583-a-GAS
2013 S.D. 86

IN THE SUPREME COURT
OF THE
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
****

DALE E. SPRINGER, DOROTHY
M. SPRINGER, ROGER A. SPRINGER
and DANIEL L. SPRINGER, Plaintiffs and Appellants,

v.

ANDY CAHOY, Defendant and Appellee,

and

DONALD L. MCCLUNG, as Trustee of the
Donald L. McClung Trust, LEONARD M.
MCCLUNG, as Trustee of the Leonard M.
McClung Trust and ALL OTHER PERSONS
UNKNOWN CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE,
ESTATE, LIEN OR INTEREST IN THE
COMPLAINT ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFFS’
OWNERSHIP OR ANY CLOUD ON
PLAINTIFF’S TITLE, Defendants.

****
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
CLARK COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
****
THE HONORABLE RONALD K. ROEHR
Judge
****
GARY W. SCHUMACHER
Wilkinson & Wilkinson
DeSmet, South Dakota Attorneys for plaintiffs
and appellants.

GORDON P. NIELSEN
DAVID A. GEYER of
Delaney, Nielsen & Sannes, PC
Sisseton, South Dakota Attorneys for defendant
and appellee.
****

CONSIDERED ON BRIEFS
ON AUGUST 27, 2013
OPINION FILED 12/04/13
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SEVERSON, Justice

[¶1.] Dale Springer, Dorothy Springer, Roger Springer, and Daniel Springer

(Springers) own a landlocked parcel of land and have brought suit claiming an

implied easement over Andy Cahoy’s land. On June 24, 2011, the Third Circuit

Court concluded that an easement implied from prior use existed. We disagreed,

Springer v. Cahoy, 2012 S.D. 32, ¶ 11, 814 N.W.2d 131, 135, holding that “Springers

failed to present clear and convincing evidence of an easement implied from prior

use.” Id. We reversed and remanded. Id. On remand, Springers argued for a

common law implied easement by necessity. On November 26, 2012, the circuit

court found the requirements for an implied easement by necessity were not met.

And even if the requirements were met, the circuit court found relief must be denied

based on South Dakota’s Marketable Title Act (SDMTA) and Springers having an

adequate remedy at law. We affirm the circuit court on the ground that SDMTA

bars Springers’ common law implied easement by necessity claim.

Background

[¶2.] Springers and Cahoy own adjacent forty-acre parcels of land in Clark

County, South Dakota. Lester Harrington owned these parcels in their unity as an

eighty-acre parcel from 1947 to 1967. On October 13, 1967, Harrington split the

parcel into two by deeding the east forty acres to his son George Harrington and the

west forty acres to his daughter Lylia McClung. In 1989, George Harrington

conveyed his east parcel to Marilyn Swanson, who subsequently conveyed the land

to Springers on May 29, 2008. In 2004, Lylia McClung conveyed her west parcel to

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Donald and Leonard McClung, who subsequently conveyed the land to Cahoy on

November 26, 2007.

[¶3.] From 1967 until 2007, the two parcels were owned separately but

rented by one person and operated as a unit. The land is primarily agricultural in

nature, bordered by Game, Fish and Parks land to the north (currently underwater

as a part of Swan Lake) and private land to the east and south. Cahoy’s west parcel

has access to a public road, while Springer’s east parcel does not. As a result,

starting in 2008, Springers crossed Cahoy’s west parcel in order to access their land.

[¶4.] There is no written document, either recorded or unrecorded, granting

the east parcel an easement across the west parcel. Further, there were no

established paths through Cahoy’s property. In an attempt to stop Springers from

crossing his property, Cahoy put up no trespassing signs in the spring of 2008.

Then in 2009, Cahoy locked the gates that provided access to his west parcel,

effectively blocking Springers from entry. Now barred from entry, Springers

commenced a quiet title action on December 21, 2009, claiming an implied easement

on Cahoy’s parcel.

[¶5.] First, Springers argued for an implied easement from prior use. The

circuit court found that an easement implied from prior use existed but limited the

use to agricultural ingress and egress during the spring and fall by seventy

horsepower equipment or less using “flotation” tires. The easement route, proposed

by Springers, meandered through Cahoy’s land. Both parties appealed. We

reversed the circuit court’s decision on the dispositive issue of whether there was an

easement implied from prior use. Springer, 2012 S.D. 32, ¶ 11, 814 N.W.2d at 135.

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Because the circuit court “did not find that there was a historical use of Springer’s

proposed trail that was so continuous, obvious, and visible to make it an apparently

permanent easement at the time of severance[,]” we held that “Springers failed to

present clear and convincing evidence of an easement implied from prior use.” Id.

¶¶ 10-11. We remanded the case to the circuit court. Id. ¶ 11.

[¶6.] On remand, Springers argued for a common law implied easement by

necessity. The circuit court found three separate grounds that prevented Springers

from being entitled to an implied easement by necessity: (1) the original grantor did

not retain ownership of any land bordering the east parcel, thus the requirements

for an implied easement by necessity were not met, (2) an adequate remedy at law

barred equitable relief, and (3) SDMTA barred the action because the severance

occurred in 1967, outside the Act’s twenty-two year provision. Springers appeal.

Standard of Review

[¶7.] We review the circuit court’s conclusions of law under the de novo

standard and findings of fact under the clearly erroneous standard. Eagle Ridge

Estates Homeowners Ass’n, v. Anderson, 2013 S.D. 21, ¶¶ 12-13, 827 N.W.2d 859,

864-65 (citations omitted). A finding is clearly erroneous when, after reviewing the

entire record, we are left with a “definite and firm conviction that a mistake has

been committed. The credibility of the witnesses, the import to be accorded their

testimony, and the weight of the evidence must be determined by the trial court,

and we give due regard to the trial court’s opportunity to observe the witnesses and

examine the evidence.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

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Analysis

[¶8.] “The common law recognizes two types of implied easements:

easements by necessity and easements implied from prior use.” Thompson v. E.I.G.

Palace Mall, LLC, 2003 S.D. 12, ¶ 11, 657 N.W.2d 300, 304. Springers seek a

common law implied easement by necessity after failing to obtain an easement

implied from prior use. An implied easement by necessity “can occur when a

grantor conveys to another an inner portion of land surrounded by lands owned by

the grantor or the grantor and others. Unless a contrary intent is manifest, the

landlocked grantee will be entitled to have a right-of-way across the retained land of

the grantor for ingress and egress.” Id. The necessity for access over the grantor’s

land must have arisen at the time of severance, in addition to a present necessity.

Magnuson v. Cossette, 707 N.W.2d 738, 746 (Minn. Ct. App. 2006); Cobb v.

Daugherty, 693 S.E.2d 800, 808-09 (W. Va. 2010); see Thompson, 2003 S.D. 12, ¶ 13,

657 N.W.2d at 305. See generally 25 Am. Jur. 2d Easements and Licenses § 35

(2013).

[¶9.] In order to determine whether there was a necessity at the time of

severance, the circuit court found that it must trace back to the date of the unitary

parcel’s severance. The circuit court concluded that because it had to trace back

more than twenty-two years to the land severance in 1967, any claim created by

that severance would be barred by SDCL chapter 43-30, also known as South

Dakota’s Marketable Record Title Act (SDMTA). We agree.

[¶10.] South Dakota’s Marketable Title Act

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[¶11.] The South Dakota Legislature instituted SDMTA in 1947. Currently,

SDCL chapter 43-30 encompasses SDMTA. The stated legislative purpose of

SDMTA is to “simplif[y] and facilitat[e] land title transactions by allowing persons

to deal with the record title owner[.]” SDCL 43-30-10. SDMTA furthers that

purpose by “extinguish[ing] ancient title claims and defects[.]” Tvedt v. Bork, 414

N.W.2d 11, 13 (S.D. 1987). Collectively, SDMTA functions as a curative act, a

recording act, and as a statute of limitations. See Wichelman v. Messner, 83 N.W.2d

800, 816 (Minn. 1957).

[¶12.] When interpreting the statutory language of SDMTA, “we begin with

the plain language and structure of the statute.” Magellan Pipeline Co., LP v. S.D.

Dep’t of Revenue & Regulation, 2013 S.D. 68, ¶ 9, 837 N.W.2d 402, 404 (quoting In

re Pooled Advocate Trust, 2012 S.D. 24, ¶ 32, 813 N.W.2d 130, 141). “When the

language in a statute is clear, certain, and unambiguous, there is no reason for

construction, and this Court’s only function is to declare the meaning of the statute

as clearly expressed.” Id. (citation omitted).

[¶13.] First, SDCL 43-30-1 specifies who is entitled to have marketable

record title:

Any person having the legal capacity to own land in this state,
who has an unbroken chain of title to any interest in land by
himself and his immediate or remote grantors for a period of
twenty-two years or longer, and is in possession of such land,
shall be deemed to have a marketable record title to such
interest, . . . .

Springers have not disputed Cahoy’s chain of title or his possession of the west

parcel. Also, Springer’s have not raised Cahoy’s chain of title or possession as an

issue. Therefore, Cahoy’s marketable record title of the west parcel is not disputed.

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[¶14.] Then, SDCL 43-30-3 limits the interests, claims, or charges that may

be brought against that marketable record title:

Such marketable title shall be held by such person and shall be
taken by his successors in interest free and clear of all interest,
claims, and charges whatever, the existence of which depends in
whole or in part upon any act, transaction, event, or omission
that occurred twenty-two years or more prior thereto, whether
such claim or charge be evidenced by a recorded instrument or
otherwise, and all such interest, claims, and charges affecting
such interest in real property shall be barred and not
enforceable at law or equity, unless any person making such
claim or asserting such interest or charge shall, on or before
twenty-three years from the date of recording of deed of
conveyance under which title is claimed, or on or before July 1,
1958, whichever event is the latest in point of time, file for
record a notice in writing, duly verified by oath, setting forth the
nature of his claim, interest, or charge; and no disability nor
lack of knowledge of any kind on the part of anyone shall
operate to extend his time for filing such claim after the
expiration of twenty-three years from the recording of such deed
of conveyance or one year after July 1, 1957, whichever event is
the latest in point of time.

[¶15.] In this case, Lester Harrington severed his parcel of land into two

separate parcels in 1967. The severance left the east parcel without an access to a

public right of way. Springers, with no public access, eventually claimed a common

law implied easement by necessity over Cahoy’s west parcel. 1 Springers’ initiated

their claim in 2009. But their claim’s existence depends on an act that occurred in

1. Springer’s claim of an implied easement by necessity is within the expansive
definition of the “claims barred” by SDMTA stated in SDCL 43-30-11:

The claims hereby barred shall mean any and all interests of
any nature whatever, however denominated, whether such
claims are asserted by a person sui juris or under disability,
whether such person is, or has been within or without the state,
and whether such person is natural or corporate or private or
governmental.

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1967—the severance and conveyance of land that created the alleged necessity.

Forty-two years separate the act in 1967 that created the alleged necessity and

Springers’ claim in 2009. According to SDCL 43-30-3, marketable record title is free

from claims that exist upon any act that occurred twenty-two or more years prior to

the claim against marketable record title. Consequently, Cahoy’s marketable

record title in the west parcel is free from Springers’ common law implied easement

by necessity claim.

[¶16.] Springers argue that their claim is not barred because their

transactions that acquired the east parcel occurred within twenty-two years. But

their argument misinterprets and misapplies SDMTA. SDMTA applies to any

claim based in “whole or in part upon any act . . . that occurred twenty-two years or

more prior thereto[.]” SDCL 43-30-3 (emphasis added). Because Springers’ claim

depends upon the initial severance and conveyance that occurred in 1967, which is

outside of the twenty-two years provision, SDMTA bars their claim.

[¶17.] SDMTA also functions as a recording act in that it provides a method

by which an owner may preserve their claim or interest. SDCL 43-30-3 preserves a

claim or interest if notice is recorded “on or before twenty-three years from the date

of recording of deed of conveyance under which title is claimed[.]” In this case,

Springers claim title under a common law theory of implied easement by necessity.

The 1967 warranty deed that created the landlocked parcel created the claimed

necessity. Therefore, the 1967 warranty deed is the “deed of conveyance under

which title is claimed.” See SDCL 43-30-3. The 1967 warranty deed’s “date of

recording” is February 26, 1975. See id. So, Springers or their predecessors were

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required to record a notice in writing setting forth the nature of their claim on or

before twenty-three years from February 26, 1975. Springers, however, have

provided no evidence of a recorded notice satisfying those requirements. The notice

provision of SDCL 43-30-3, therefore, did not preserve Springers’ claim.

[¶18.] The Florida Supreme Court faced a similar issue in H & F Land, Inc.

v. Panama City-Bay Cnty. Airport & Indus. Dist., 736 So. 2d 1167 (Fla. 1999).

There, a conveyance in 1940 caused a small piece of land to become both water- and

landlocked. In 1992, H & F acquired the small piece of land. In 1996, H & F filed a

lawsuit asserting a common law way of necessity. Fifty-six years separated the

creation of the way of necessity in 1940 and the lawsuit in 1996. The Florida

Supreme Court stated Florida’s Marketable Record Title to Real Property Act

(FLMTA) functions much like a statute of limitations requiring “stale demands to

be asserted within a reasonable time after a cause of action accrued.” Id. at 1176

(citation omitted). In other words, a claimant of an easement or their predecessors

had to file a claim for a common law easement of necessity within the prescribed

period in order to preserve the easement from extinguishing under FLMTA. Id.

The Florida Court found that no easement was recorded, so FLMTA extinguished H

& F’s claim of a common-law way of necessity. Id.

[¶19.] We agree with the Florida Court, in that SDMTA also functions much

like a statute of limitations requiring stale demands to be asserted within an

SDMTA-defined period. In this case, like in H & F Land, no easement or claim was

filed for notice within SDMTA’s statutory period. Therefore, SDMTA effectively

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extinguished Springers’ claim of a common law implied easement by necessity. 2 See

3 Patton & Palomar on Land Titles § 563 (2013) (stating Marketable Record Title

Acts may extinguish common law ways of necessity); Larson v. Hammonasset

Fishing Ass’n., Inc., 1996 WL 156014, at *3 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1996) (stating that the

Marketable Record Title Act would have extinguished the plaintiffs’ right of way

because the plaintiffs and their predecessors had failed to file a notice pursuant to

the provisions of the Act), aff’d, 688 A.2d 373 (Conn. App. Ct. 1997).

Conclusion

[¶20.] We hold that SDMTA bars Springers’ claim of a common law implied

easement by necessity because it depends in whole or in part upon the initial

severance of the land that occurred twenty-two years or more prior to Springers’

claim on Cahoy’s marketable title. Also, Springers or their predecessors in interest

did not preserve their claim by recording it within SDMTA’s statutory period.

Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court on the ground that SDMTA bars Springers’

action. Because this holding disposes of the ultimate issue of whether Springer’s

are entitled to an implied easement by necessity, we need not address the other

issues.

[¶21.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and KONENKAMP, ZINTER, and

WILBUR, Justices, concur.

2. The record shows that Springers did not seek a remedy under SDCL chapter
31-22, which provides a right to access from an isolated tract to a highway.
Since the issue has not been raised, we do not address the potential
applicability of this remedy. See Blanton v. City of Pinellas Park, 887 So. 2d
1224 (Fla. 2004) (holding that FLMTA does not apply to extinguish a valid
claim to a statutory way of necessity).

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