Nellie Gail Ranch Owners Association v. McMullin
Defendant could not support his adverse possession claim with respect to a retaining wall he built on adjoining property that belonged to plaintiff homeowners’ association. Read More
The following summaries are of recent published decisions of the California appellate courts, the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. The summaries are presented without regard to whether Severson & Werson represented a party in the case.
Defendant could not support his adverse possession claim with respect to a retaining wall he built on adjoining property that belonged to plaintiff homeowners’ association. Read More
The relevant limitations period on a quiet title claim is governed by underlying basis of the claim; in this case, the gravamen of the quiet title claim was that defendant induced her erstwhile boyfriend to sign title transfer documents while inebriated, so the three-year limitations period applicable to fraud claims applied. Read More
Plaintiffs did not allege facts sufficient to show that defendant landowners impliedly dedicated a fire road over their land to public use, since fire roads are only temporary easements and do not alert the landowner to any risk that they could be surrendering property rights, and there was insufficient evidence that the road was constantly used by hikers. Read More
To prove a common law dedication, plaintiff need only show the owner’s intent to dedicate the property to public use and the public’s acceptance of the dedication; no written conveyance or acceptance by a public entity is required. Read More
Because a property owner has no right to unobstructed views, the owner cannot sue a city in inverse condemnation for planting trees that block views even if the loss of views lowers the value of the property. Read More
Bishop of Episcopalian diocese lacked authority to amend the canons of the corporation sole in whose name the diocese’s property was held, so transfers of diocese property which the bishop made pursuant to his purported amendments were invalid. Read More