Source: http://courts.mrsc.org/supreme/067wn2d/067wn2d0086.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 06:35:28+00:00

Document:
F. WHITMORE READING et al., Respondents, v. ROBERT H.
 COVENANTS - ENFORCEMENT - CLEAN HANDS. The equitable principle that one who has violated a covenant relating to building restrictions cannot enforce such restrictions against others, will not be invoked where the violation is of a minor nature and does not destroy the building scheme created by the restrictions.
 SAME - ENFORCEMENT - ABANDONMENT - PROOF. While a general violation or abandonment of the building plan created by restrictive covenants in the deeds to residential lots will prevent, on equitable grounds, the enforcement of the restrictions, the showing of a single violation in a period of 18 years, the effect of which was minimized by its location within the residential tract, was not sufficient to establish a defense to other violations of the restrictions.
 SAME - EQUITY - LACHES. A reasonable delay caused by an effort to settle a dispute does not invoke the doctrine of laches.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court for Thurston County, No. 33740, Charles T. Wright, J., entered July 6, 1964. Affirmed.
«*» Reported in 406 P.2d 634.
 See Am. Jur. 2d, Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions § 313.
O'Leary, Meyer & O'Leary, by Ernest L. Meyer, for appellants.
Parr & Baker and Frank E. Baker, for respondents.
That the said house and garage shall not be built closer to the street lines than thirty (30) feet, that also applies to corner lots; houses must be kept back from the streets on the side lines thirty (30) feet and five (5) feet from the interior lot lines.
All porches are considered part of the house and must stay back from the street lines on inside or corner lots thirty (30) feet.
May 1, 1945, the owners deeded Lots 11 and 12 in Block 5 to Howard C. Moon and wife. The deed was recorded in the office of the County Auditor, and contained 12 restrictive covenants, including the one above quoted.
October 27, 1958, Howard C. Moon and wife sold their lots on contract to Robert H. Keller and wife. The contract recited that title was subject to the "Easements and restrictions of record." The deed, which was placed in escrow, contained no restrictive covenants. However, the Kellers received a title insurance policy, dated November 1, 1958 to which was attached a resume of the platters' 12 restrictive covenants. In October 1959, the Kellers completed payment of their contract, and the deed was delivered to them by the escrow holder.
deed to Howard C. Moon, from whom Kellers obtained their title.
December 18, 1961, Robert H. Keller commenced construction of a residence on Lot 11. January 5, 1962, when it became evident from the stakes and proposed footings that the residence would be only 20 feet from the street, instead of 30 feet as provided by the platters' restrictive building covenant No. 2, Mr. Reading contacted Mr. Keller and informed him of the building restriction. When building continued, Mr. Reading again called Mr. Keller and advised him that an injunction would be sought if construction continued as contemplated. Mr. Keller had then expended some $1,500 in construction costs. January 26, 1962, other property owners residing in the addition protested the violation to Mr. Keller in writing.
February 15, 1962, F. Whitmore Reading and wife commenced this action to enjoin the construction of the residence on Lot 11 in violation of the restrictive covenant. By this time, Mr. Keller had expended $6,000 of the total $12,000 construction cost of the residence on Lot 11.
Thurston County, and defendants hereby are given a reasonable time to comply with such permanent injunction, to-wit: one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the entry of this injunction decree.
Appellants assert that "There is very little, if any, controversy concerning the facts in this case," and that the appeal is predicated upon equitable principles.
The trial court found that the appellants, with knowledge of the restrictive building covenant, built their home in violation of it.
 The evidence established that respondents had purchased a residence on Lot 9, Block 1, of Sunset Addition No. 6, in which they then resided. The house had been built by the former owners at ground level instead of 12 inches above ground level, as required by the restrictive covenants. Appellants urge that the facts here support the application of the equitable principle that one who has violated a building restriction cannot enforce a building restriction against others. 14 Am. Jur. Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions § 338, at 665.
The court found that the Reading property had been built by the former owners in violation of the restrictive covenant, but nevertheless granted respondents the relief prayed for. We must, therefore, conclude that the trial court held that the facts brought the respondents within the exception to the general rule, in that the violation was of a minor nature and did not destroy the building scheme. See J. L. Cooper & Co. v. Anchor Sec. Co., 9 Wn.2d 45, 113 P.2d 845 (1941); Romberg v. Smith, 132 Wash. 345, 232 Pac. 283 (1925); 14 Am. Jur. § 338, at 665, supra.
If, however, the general building plan has not been applied to the entire tract (Tindolph v. Schoenfeld Bros., 157 Wash. 605, 289 Pac. 530 (1930)), or after the plan was established it was habitually and substantially violated so that it might be said to have been abandoned, then equity will not enforce the covenants. Ronberg v.
Smith, 132 Wash. 345, 232 Pac. 283 (1925).
There is only one violation of the covenant, here in question, which is actually established other than the subject one. That is the property referred throughout the trial as the VanMeter house. That property is at the extreme edge of the sub-division and both the evidence and the Court's view of the premises indicate that it is at the end of a street.
announced in the cited case to the facts established by the evidence.
Finally, appellants contend that the respondents have been guilty of laches, in that they failed to act promptly to prevent the appellants from suffering a substantial financial loss, and that now to require the appellants to comply With the restrictive covenant is an unconscionable penalty.
The trial court found that there had been no laches on the part of the respondents. This finding is supported by the fact that the restrictive covenants were included in the title insurance policy which appellants received, by the prompt notice which respondents gave to appellants as soon as the violation became apparent, and by the court's admonition to appellants, at the time the temporary restraining order was dissolved, that further construction would be at their risk.
 There was a delay of approximately 6 weeks after respondents gave notice to appellants of their intention to en join before the action was commenced. During this time, the parties were trying to effect a settlement. A reasonable delay caused by an effort to settle a dispute does not invoke the doctrine of laches. Mt. Baker Park Club. v. Colcock, supra.
The judgment is affirmed. Since the time for compliance with the provisions of the judgment has expired, appellants are granted 120 days from the date the remittitur is filed in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court for Thurston County for compliance.
ROSELLINI, C. J., HILL and HALE, JJ., and LANGENBACH, J. Pro Tem., concur.
December 3, 1965. Petition for rehearing denied.

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