Opinion ID: 2402326
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: The Claims of the Parties

Text: The parties seek, inter alia, a declaratory judgment regarding their respective rights and obligations which arise from the aforementioned express easements or rights-of-way set forth in the deeds held by the Carpenters and Lynn Labossiere. Jurisdiction of this Court is primarily governed by the Rhode Island Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act, 9-30-1, et. seq. and Super. R. Civ. P. 57. This lawsuit was initiated by Benjamin and Linda Carpenter by way of a Verified Complaint filed on April 10, 2003. Defendants Paul and Mirja Hanslin filed an answer and counterclaim on April 11, 2003. Plaintiffs Carpenter filed a First Amended Complaint on May 20, 2003, and a Second Amended Complaint on June 16, 2003. On or about January 8, 2004, Plaintiffs Benjamin and Linda Carpenter filed their Third Amended Complaint seeking, inter alia, quiet title as to their rights-of-way, an injunction prohibiting both the Rhode Island Boy Scouts and Paul and Mirja Hanslin from interfering with their right to enjoy their rights-of-way, and a declaratory judgment as to: a.) what portions of their rights-of-way can be used by motor vehicles, and b.) the boundaries of a prescriptive easement which they claim to have acquired. On January 12, 2004 Paul and Mirja Hanslin filed a Third Party Complaint against Lynn Labossiere which sought, inter alia, a permanent injunction prohibiting Labossiere from trespassing on their property by failing to limit her travel and use of her right-of-way to the rights allowed by her deeded rights-of-way. Thereafter, on January 29, 2004, Labossiere filed a counterclaim and cross claim against the Hanslins. Trial was held without a jury during the period June 29-July 1, 2004, as to the unresolved claims. [2]