FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, M A RKLE and COLVI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Septem ber 18, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 22 5 . W ILKES 5 8 1 FARM S, LLC v . M CAVOY.

M A R K LE
, J ud g e.

Th i s ap p eal ari ses fro m a d i s pu t e b et ween W il k es 5 8 1 Farm

, LLC (W i l k es ) an d

Hen ry P. M cAv o y (M cAv oy ) co n cern i n g a farm ro ad t o w h i c h M cAv o y cl ai m s to

h av e a pres cri p t i v e eas em en t an d ac r o s s wh i ch W i l k es i n s t al l ed a ch ai n ed g at e.

Fo l l o wi ng a t ri al

, t h e ju ry fo u n d i n M cAv o y ’ s fav o r. W i l k es n o w ap p eal s , co n t en d i n g

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i ts m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct b ecau s e M cAv oy

fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h h e h el d a pres cri p t i v e eas em en t fo r t h e ro ad

. W e ag ree, an d

t h erefo re rev ers e.

“ [O] n ap p eal fro m

t h e d en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r a d irect ed v erd ict . . . , we

co n s t ru e th e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p art y o p p o s i n g

t h e m ot i o n , an d th e s tan d ard o f rev i ew i s wh et h er t h ere i s an y ev i d en cet o s u p p o rt t h e j ury ’ s v erd i ct

. Ho wev er, we rev i e w q u es t i o n s o f l aw de

n o v o , ap p l y i n g t h e p l ai n l eg al erro r s t an dard o f rev iew.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on om i tt ed .) S ou t h la n d Pr o

p an e, In c. v. McW

h o r t er , 3 1 2 Ga.

Ap p . 8 1 2 , 8 1 3 (7 2 0 SE2 d 2 7 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t hat t h e part i es , wh o o wn n ei g h b o ri n g t r a c t s o f

l an d

, d i s p u t e o wn ers h i p an d u sag e o f a ro ad in W i l k es Co u n t y

. Th e ro ad ru n s fro m

t h e b o u n d a ry o f M cAv oy ’ s p ro p ert y an d co n t i n u es h al f a m i l e acro s s t h e W i l k es

p ro p ert y

.

Pri o r t o 1 9 81

, t h e W i lk es ’ s p ro p ert y h ad v ari o u s o wn ers

. Du ri n g t h at t i m e,

m an y l an d own ers an d farm ers u s ed t h e ro ad

. In 1 98 1

, W i l li am Mu rp h y p u rch as ed t h e

p ro p ert y , p as s i n g it t o h is s o n , J ett M urp h y (co l l ect i vel y “ M u rp h y ”), s o m e t i m e b efo re

2 0 1 4

. M cAv o y o wn ed t h e n ei gh b o ri n g l o t. 1 Al t h o u g h t h e g en eral p u bl i c h ad s t o p p ed

u s i n g t h e ro ad b y t h e t im e M u rp h y p u rch as ed th e l an d, Mu rp h y p l aced a l o ck ed g at e

acro s s th e ro ad way

. Nev ert h el es s , M u rp h y g av e t h e k ey o r l o ck co m b i n a t i o n to

M cAv o y an d h i s fo res t ers an d al l o wed t h em t o u s e t h e ro ad t o t ran s p o rt M cAv o y ’ s

t i m b er h arv e s t or fo r o t h er farm i ng p urp o s es

. W h en th e fo res t ers w ere read y to

h arv es t t he t i m

b er, t h ey wo u l d l et M u rp h y k no w, as a co u rt es y , b u t a t n o t i m e d id

1 M cAv o y ’ s p ro p ert y

i s al s o referred t o as t h e Orr t ract

.

2M cAv o y o r t h e fo res t ers as k p erm is s io n t o us e t h e ro ad

. M u rp h y i ns t ru ct ed t h em t h at

t h ey were free t o u s e t h e ro ad as l o n g as t h ey l eft it t h e way t h ey fo u n d i t

. M cAv oy

co n ti n u ed t o u s e t h e ro ad t o h au l t i m b er i n 1 9 9 5

, 2 0 1 1, an d 2 01 3

.

M cAv o y hel p ed m ai n t ai n t h e ro ad t o keep i t op en an d u s ab le bet ween 1 9 8 1 an d

1 9 9 5

. He m o wed t h e ro ad a few t i m es an d m ad e rep ai rs o v er t h e y ears

. An d h e m ad e

s u re t h e l an d was in g o o d rep ai r aft er h e u s ed i t fo r each t i m b er h arv es t

. W h en

M u rp h y o wn ed t he l an d

, h e al s o l eas ed it t o h un t ers , an d t h e h u n t e rs p erfo rm ed

m ai n t en an ce o n t h e ro ad du ri n g t h e i r u s e. In ad d it io n , M urp h y m ai n t ai n ed an d

rep ai red t h e ro ad , o r as k ed M cAv o y ’ s fo res ters t o d o i t

.

In 2 0 1 4

, W i lk es acq u i red t h e l an d fro m M u rp h y

. Th e s al es co n t ract m ad e n o

m en t i o n of an eas em en t fo r t he ro ad . W i l kes co n t in u ed t o leas e t h e l an d t o h u n t ers ,

an d Wi l k e s p e rs on al l y u sed t h e ro ad t o acces s h i s h o m e an d o th er p art s o f t h e

p ro p ert y , an d p erm i t t ed h is fo res t ers t o u s e t he ro ad as wel l

. W i l k es al s o al l o wed

M cAv o y’s f

o res t ers t o u se t h e ro ad t o ch eck o n M cAv oy ’ s t i m ber. Aft er t ak i n g

p o s s es s i o n o f t h e p ro p ert y , W i l k es m ai n t ai n ed t h e ro ad

.

In 20 1 6

, u p o n l earn i n g t h at M cAv o y wan ted t o u s e t h e ro ad w ay to h au l t i m b er

o ff h i s p ro p ert y , W i l k es refu s ed t o al l o w M cAv o y acces s . In s t ead

, W i l k es i n s t al l ed

a ch ai n ed g at e acro ss t h e ro ad t o p rev en t M cAv o y ’ s fu rt h er u s e o f i t

.

3M c A v o y t h en b ro u g ht an act i o n i n t he Pro bat e Co u rt o f W i l k es Co u n t y t o

e s t ab l i s h a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t o v er t h e ro ad way

. Th e p ro bat e co urt ru led i n h i s

fav o r, an d W i l k es ap p eal ed t o t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f W il k es C o u n t y

. T h e cas e

p ro ceed ed t o t r i a l

, an d

, at t h e cl o s e o f McAv oy ’ s ev i d en ce, W i lk es m o v ed fo r a

d i rect ed v erd i ct

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

. Th e ju ry fo u n d i n fav o r o f M cAv o y , an d

t h i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

In rel at ed arg um en t s , W i l k es as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co ur t e r r e d i n d en y i n g i t s

m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct b ecau s e M cAv o y fa i l ed t o p ro ve t h e es s en ti al el em en t s

req u i red t o e s t a b l is h a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t acro s s t h e ro ad o n W i l k es ’ s l an d.

Sp eci fi cal l y , W i l k es as s er t s t h at (a) M cAv oy ori g i n al l y h ad p erm i s s i on t o u s e t h e

r o a d ; (b ) h e h as fai l ed t o s h o w t h at h i s u s e was co n t i n u o u s , ex cl u s i v e, an d

u n i n t erru p t ed ; an d (c) M cAv o y h as fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h an ad v ers e u s e o r m ai n t en an ce

o f t h e ro ad s uch as wo u ld co ns t i t u t e n o t i ce o f h is p res cri p ti v e ri gh t s t o i t

. W e ag ree.

Geo rg i a l aw reco g n izes t h e ab i l i t y to ob t ai n a p ri vat e w ay o v er t h e l an d

o f an o t h er fro m p res cri p t i o n b y s ev en y ears ’ u n i n t erru p ted u s e t h ro u g h

i m p ro v ed l an d s

. . . . Th e b u rd en of es t ab l i s h i ng p res cri p t i ve t i t l e l i es o n

t h e p l ai nt i ff. In o rd er t o es t a b l i s h t he ex is ten ce o f a p ri vat e way ov er
[W i l k es ’ s ] l an d

, [M cAv o y was ] req u i red t o s h ow ( 1 ) t h at [h e]

, o r a

p red eces s o r i n t it l e, h ad b een i n u ni n t erru p t ed u s e o f th e al l eg ed p ri vat e

way fo r t h e p e r i o d o f t i m e req u i red b y OCGA § 44 -9 -1 ; (2 ) t h at th e

4p ri v at e way i s n o m o re t h an t wen t y feet wi d e, a n d t h a t i t i s t h e s am e

t wen t y feet o ri g i n al l y ap p ro p ri at ed ; [ 2 ] an d (3 ) th at [h e h a s ] k ep t th e

p ri v at e w ay i n rep ai r d u ri n g t h e p eri o d o f u n in t erru p t ed u s e. M o reo v er,

a cl ai m o f pres cri p t i ve t i t l e req u i res p ro o f t h at t h e p o s s es s i o n d i d n o t

o ri g in at e i n frau d an d was (1 ) p u bl i c; (2 ) co n t in u o u s ; (3 ) ex cl u s i ve; (4 ) u n i n t erru p ted ; (5 ) peaceab l e; an d (6 ) acco m p an i ed b y a cl ai m o f

ri gh t. Th e u s e m

u st al s o be ad v ers e rat her t h an perm is s i v e. Ho wev er, t o

al l o w a pers o n t o acq u i re p res cri p t i v e ri g h t s o v er t h e l an d s o f an o t h er i s

a h a r s h res u l t fo r t h e b u rd en ed l an d o wn er. Th u s, Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e

s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed th e el em en t s of OCGA § 44 -9 -1 ag ai n s t t h e p art y wh o

as s ert s a ri g h t o f e nt ry

o v er t he l an d s o f an o t her. If t h e p res cri ber fai l s

t o s h o w an y of t he el em en t s neces s ary to es t ab l i s h p res cri pt i v e ri g h t s , he

can n o t reco v er. 3

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Fl o yd v. Ch ap ma n , 35 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 4

, 4 3 6 -4 3 7

(1 ) (8 3 8 SE2 d 99 ) (2 0 2 0 ). Th e ev i d en ce rev eal s t hat M cAv o y h as n o t m et h i s b u rd en

o f es t ab l i s h i n g a cl ai m

fo r p res cri p t iv e eas em en t.

(a) Acq u i es cen ce

2 Th e p art ies s t ip u l at ed t h at t h e ro ad i n di sp u t e d i d n o t ex ceed 2 0 feet i n wi d t h.

Al s o , t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e l o cat i o n o f t h e ro ad s h i ft ed d u ri n g M cAv o y ’ s u s e

o f i t . Th u s , t hes e are n ot i s s u es o n ap p eal

.

3 A g en eral rev iew o f t h e p art i es ’ b ri efs

, as w el l as t h e p ro b at e an d t ri al co urt ’ s

t reat m en t o f t h e cas e, s h o ws th at t h e ro ad at i ss u e was o v er i m pro v ed l an d s , an d t hu s

t h e s ev en -y ear p res cri b ed u s e u n d er OCGA § § 4 4 -9 -1 ; 4 4 -9 -5 4 i s ap p l icab l e.

5Fi rs t

, W i l k es arg u es th at M cAv o y ’ s u s e of t h e ro ad o ri g in at ed as a p erm i s s i v e

o r acq u i es ced u s e o f a co m m u n i t y f a r m r o a d

, an d t h u s M cAv o y can n o t acq u i re

p res cri pt i v e ri g ht s t o t he ro ad . A rev i ew o f t h e ev i d en ce rev eal s t hat M cAv o y ’ s u s e

o f t h e ro ad

, at t h e v ery

l eas t , was b y

acq u ies cen ce.

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw,

[t ] h at a p ro p ert y own er k n o ws o f an d acq u i es ces i n t h e u s e o f hi s p ri vat e

way i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h p res cri p t i o n. An o w n er’ s acq u i es cen ce

i n t h e m ere u se o f h i s ro ad es t ab l i s h es , at m os t

, a rev ocab l e l i cen se. To

es t ab l i sh a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t o ver t h e p ri v at e p ro p ert y of an o t h er

p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 4 4-9 -1

, i t i s neces s ary t o s h o w t h at t h e o wn er w as

g i v en n o t i ce t h at t h e u ser i n ten d ed t o ap p ro p ri at e i t a s h i s o wn

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed ; em p h as is s u pp l ied .) Do u g l a s v. K n o x , 2 3 2 Ga.

Ap p . 5 5 1 , 5 5 2 (2 ) (5 0 2 SE2 d 4 9 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ); s ee al s o McGr eg o r v. Ri ver Po n d Fa r m,

LLC

, 31 2 Ga. A p p

. 6 5 2

, 65 6 (2 ) (7 1 9 SE2 d 5 4 6) (2 0 1 1 ) (s p eci al m as t er’ s fi n di n g t h at

farm an d i t s p r ed eces so rs i n t i t l e n ev er as k ed fo r p erm i s s i on , an d t he M cGreg o rs

n ev er ob je c t e d

, was i n ad eq u at e t o es t ab l i s h t h e ad v ers e n o t i ce n eces sary t o cl ai m a

p res cri pt i v e eas em en t ). Perm i s s i v e u s e o f t h e ro ad m ay on l y ri p en i nt o p res cri p t i o n

i f M cAv o y g av e n o t ice t h at hi s u s e was ad v ers e t o t h e p ro p ert y own er. Pi ch u l i k v.

Ba l l , 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p . 6 5 6, 6 61 (2 ) 6 07 SE2 d 2 4 7 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

6Here, i t i s u n d i s p u t ed th at M cAv o y ’s a n d h i s p red eces s o rs ’ s us e o f t h e ro ad

p re-d at es W i l k es ’ s pu rch as e o f t h e l an d, an d t h at

, p ri o r t o W i l k es ’ s p urch as e i n 2 0 1 4,

t h e u s e o f t h e ro ad was b as ed o n a c o m m on u n d ers t an d i n g bet ween al l affect ed

l an d o wn ers

. M cAv o y t es t i fi ed t h at h e n ev er as ked fo r p erm i s s io n t o us e t h e ro ad

, n o r

was hi s acces s t o i t b l o ck ed p ri o r to 2 0 1 6

. He al s o t es t i fi ed t h at n ei t h e r h e n o r h i s

fo res t ers s o u g h t M u rp h y ’ s p erm i s s i o n t o u s e t h e ro ad

, b u t t hat i t was t h ei r pract i ce to

i n fo rm h i m o f t h ei r u se s i m p ly as a co urt es y

. Ho wev er, t h e ev i d en ce fu rt h er s h o wed

t h at M u rp h y was aware o f McAv o y ’ s u s e o f t h e ro ad

, a n d d i d n ot prev en t i t

. An d,

aft er M urp hy i n s t al l ed a g at e acro s s i t

, h e g av e M cAv o y acces s t o t h e l o ck ed g at e to

u s e t h e ro ad

. In fact

, o ne o f t he fo res t ers t es t i fi ed t h at M u rp h y i n fo rm ed h i m i t was

p erm i s s i b l e fo r h i m t o us e t he ro ad s o l on g as i t was l eft th e way i t w as fo u nd

. Th ere

i s t h u s n o ev id en ce o f an ad vers e u s e. Th e reco rd s h o ws o n l y t h at M urp h y acq u i es ced

i n M cAv o y ’ s s h ared us e o f t he ro ad

, an d s u ch acq u i es cen ce i s i ns u ffi ci en t to es t ab l i s h

a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t

. Pi ch u l i k

, 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 1 (2 ); Do ug l a s , 2 3 2 G a

. A p p.

at 5 5 2 (2 ).

(b ) Excl u s i vi t

y

M o reo v er, McAv o y fai led t o p ro v e t h at h i s u s e w as ex cl us i v e. An asse r tio n t h at

t h e ro ad was co m

m o n an d av ai l ab l e t o ot h ers “ n eg at es [M cAv o y ’ s ] cl ai m t o a

7p res cri pt i v e eas em en t b arri n g s om e ev id en ce s h o wi n g [h e] p ro v i d ed n o t ice b y rep ai rs

o r o t h erwi s e, t h at h e h as ch an g ed [h i s ] p os i t i o n fro m t h at o f a m ere l i cen s ee t o t h at

o f a p res cri b er.” (Ci t at i on an d punc tua tion o m i t t ed .) An d r ews v. Ha b i t a t

f o r Hu ma n i t

y

i n At la n ta

, In c. , 29 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 2

, 39 3 (6 7 1 SE2 d 8 7 9 ) (2 0 08 ); s ee al s o Pi ch u l i k

, 2 7 0

G a

. Ap p

. at 66 1 -6 6 2 (2 ) (ap p el l an t s co ul d n o t es t ab l i s h p res cri p ti v e eas em en t o v er

d ri v eway wh ere ev i d en ce s h o w ed t h ei r u se was s h ared an d n o t ex cl u s i ve).

Here, t h ere i s no d i s p u t e i n t h e ev i d en ce t h at m an y o t h ers u s ed t h e ro ad b es i d e

M cAv o y

. M cAv o y ad m i t ted t h at h e d i d v ery l i t t l e m ai n t en an ce o n t h e ro ad du ri n g t h e

t i m e t he h u n t ers u s ed i t b ecau s e t h ey were m ai n t ai n i n g i t fo r t h ei r o wn u s e, an d p ri o r

t o t h a t

, he m ai n t ai n ed t h e ro ad fo r h i m s el f as wel l as o t h ers

. T h i s as s ert i o n n eg a t e s

M cAv o y ’ s cl ai m t o a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t b as ed o n ex cl u s i ve u s e. An d r ews , 2 9 5 Ga.

Ap p . at 3 9 3

.

(c) Ad ver se u s e

Fi n al l y , t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at M cAv o y ’ s us e o f t h e ro ad was ad v ers e.

Ag ai n , es t ab l i s h m en t o f a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t req ui res a sh o w i n g th at “ t h e o wn er

was g iv en n o ti ce t h at t h e u s e r i n t e n ded t o ap p ro p ri at e [t h e l an d ] as hi s o wn .”

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Do u g la s , 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 2 (2 ). “ [P] res cri p t i o n d oes no t b eg in

t o ru n u n t i l t h e u s er n o t i fi es t h e o wn er, b y rep ai rs o r o t h erwi s e, t h at h e h as ch an g ed

8h i s p o s i t i o n fro m t h at o f a m ere l i cen s ee t o t h at o f a p res cri ber.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ho b b s v. Lo vel a d

y , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p . 1 1 1 , 1 1 2 (1 ) (6 1 1 SE2 d 6 6 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

Th e g i s t o f t h e req ui rem en t as t o rep ai rs i s n o t s o m u ch t h e rep ai rs as th e

n o t i ce wh i ch i s g i v e n b y t h e rep ai rs

. Th e cru x o f t h e req u i rem en t fo r

rep ai rs l i es n o t i n t h e act ual effect u at i o n of rep ai rs b y t h e pres cri b er b u t

i n t h e n o t i ce o f ad v ers e u s e t he p erfo rm an ce o f s uch rep ai rs wo u l d g iv e

t o t h e p ro pert y

o wn er.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Ga . Pa ci f ic Co r p. v. Jo h n s , 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 4,

5 9 5 (4 2 0 SE2 d 3 9 ) (1 9 9 2). M ere u s e o f a ro ad wa y i s n o t en o u g h t o acq u i re

p res cri pt i v e ri g h t s

. B

MH Rea l Es t a t e Pa r t n er

s h ip v. M o n t go mer y , 2 4 6 G a. Ap p

. 3 0 1,

3 0 4 ( 3 ) (5 4 0 SE2 d 2 5 6 ) (2 0 0 0). Li k ewi s e, “ m ere act s o f k eep in g g ras s o u t o f o r

p as s i n g o v er t h e [ro ad ] can n o t a c c o m p li s h p res cri p t i o n[.] ” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

An d rews , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . at 3 9 3

.

M cAv o y h as n o t s h own t h at h i s u s e of t h e ro ad was ad v ers e. M cAv o y t es t i fi ed

t h at h e an d h i s fam i l y u s ed t h e ro ad i n t h e 1 9 70 s t o earl y 19 8 0 s as need ed fo r farm i n g

p u rp os es , an d t h at h e co n t i n ued t o u s e t h e ro ad fo r t i m ber h arv es t s i n 1 99 5

, 2 0 1 1

, an d

2 0 1 3

. Bu t t h i s u s e i s i n s u f f i c i en t t o es t ab l i s h a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t

. BMH R ea l

Es t a t e Pa r t n er

s hi p , 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 4 (3 ). As set fo rt h ab o v e, t h e ev id en ce s h o wed

t h at o t hers u s ed t h e ro ad as w el l d u ri n g t h es e t i m es

. No tab l y , wh en M u rp h y i n s t al l ed

9l o ck ed g at es o n t h e ro ad

, M cAv o y d i d n o t h i n g t o rem ov e t h e g at e o r t o p rev en t o t h ers

fro m acces s in g t h e ro ad

. 4 M cAv o y ’ s i n act io n i n t h is reg ard d o es no t ev i d en ce an

i n t en t i o n t o ap p ro p ri at e t h e l an d as hi s o wn

. Do u g l a s , 2 32 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 2 (2 );

McGr eg o r , 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 5 6 (2 ).

As fo r r e p a i rs , t h e ev i d en ce s h o w ed t h at an y rep ai rs M cAv o y ’ s fo res t ers

p erfo rm ed o r wo u l d h av e p erfo rm ed were d o n e wi t h M u rp h y ’ s p erm i ss i o n

. Rep ai rs

p erfo rm ed wi t h t h e o w n er’ s p erm i s s i o n o r b y ag reem en t can n o t es t ab l i s h a

p res cri pt i v e eas em en t

. See M cGr eg o r , 3 1 2 G a

. Ap p

. at 65 5 -6 56 (2 ); Nel s o n v. Gi r a r d

,

2 1 5 Ga. 5 1 8

, 5 1 9 -5 2 0 (2 ) (1 1 1 SE2 d 6 0 ) (1 95 9 ); s ee al s o No rf o l k S o u t h er n R. Co

. v.

Demp s e y , 2 6 7 G a

. 2 4 1

, 2 4 2 (1 ) (4 7 6 SE2 d 5 7 7) (1 9 96 ). As s u ch

, t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce es t ab l i sh i ng th at M cAv o y ’ s u s e o f t h e ro ad w as ad vers e. D o u g l a s , 2 3 2 Ga.

Ap p . at 5 5 2 (2 ); s ee al s o M cGr eg o r , 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 5 6 (2 ).

Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s , M cAv o y fai l ed t o p ro v e t h e es sen t i al el em en t s req u i red

t o es tab l i s h a p res cri p t i v e eas em en t o ver t he ro ad

, an d th erefo re t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n den y i n g W i lk es ’ s m o ti o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

. S o ut h l an d Pr o

p a n e , 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p.

at 8 1 3

. Acco rd i ng l y , we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju dg m en t

.

4 In t eres t i n g l y , i n 1 9 89 wh en M cAv o y h ad a p l at o f t h e l an d at i s s u e p rep ared

, h e h ad t h e o p po rt u n i t y t o es t ab li s h a p res cri p ti v e eas em en t o v er t h e ro ad

, b u t d i d n ot
d o s o

.

10Ju d

g men t r ever sed . McFa d

d en , C. J., a n d

Co l vi n , J., co n cu r

.

11