Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

99 Mass. 26

Phipps v. Johnson

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided January 15, 1868

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1868-01-15

<p>In a reservation of a right of way over a lot of land for the purpose of repairing a building on an adjoining lot at all times when necessary, the provision that “ said passway shall be only a foot passage for said purpose ” does not definitely locate the way.</p> <p>If the grantor of a lot of land reserved “ the right to pass and repass over the granted premises for the purpose of repairing his building” on an adjoining lot “at all times when necessary,” the grantee is entitled to reasonable notice of the intention of the grantor to make repairs, before being liable to an action for obstructing the right of way.</p>

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1868-01-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently September 1951

3 state decisions

101868187018801890190019101920193019401950decided

Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Chapman, J.

¶1The deed of Martin and Herrick to the defendant contains the following reservation: “ And the said Herrick, his heirs and assigns, is to have the right and privilege to pass and repass over the above granted premises for the purpose of repairing his building at all times when necessary, the said pass-way to be only a foot passage for said purpose.”

¶2This was not a reservation of a right to pass at all times; and intervals of many months or years might elapse in which there would be no occasion to make repairs. During these intervals there would be right to use the way. And as the plaintiff might need to occupy more space in passing for the purpose of making some kinds of repairs than he would need for making other repairs, the way, though a mere foot way, was not definitely located.

¶3For all purposes consistent with this occasional right of way, the right to use the land was conveyed to the defendant. It would be construing his deed very strongly against him to hold that he is bound to keep the land free from all obstructions, at all times, so that this passage way can be used without notice. It would deprive him of the use of the land to an unreasonable extent. Nor is there any occasion to require this of him. The making of repairs requires some preparation, so that the owner of the building may, without detriment to his own rights, give reasonable notice that he is about to repair and will have occasion to use the way. Considering the purpose and character the reservation, and construing the deed most strongly against *29the grantor, the court are of opinion that the defendant was entitled to reasonable notice that the plaintiff was about to repair, before being liable to an action for obstructing the way. Ii it were not so, he could not even place a cart or wagon upon it temporarily without exposing himself to an action for damages.

¶4This decision renders it unnecessary to consider the other points that have been discussed. Exceptions overruled.

/99/mass/26 · .json · Public domain