Opinion ID: 4159997
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relevant Principles of Easement Law

Text: ¶23 An easement grants a right to use another's land. Konneker v. Romano, 2010 WI 65, ¶25, 326 Wis. 2d 268, 785 N.W.2d 432 (quoting Hunter v. McDonald, 78 Wis. 2d 338, 343, 254 N.W.2d 282 (1977)). It also creates two estates: the dominant estate enjoys the ability to use the land in the way described in the easement, while the servient estate permits that use. Id. The dominant estate holder's use of the easement must be 9 Nos. 2014AP2278 & 2014AP2279 in accordance with and confined to the terms and purposes of the grant. Id. (quoting Stoesser v. Shore Drive P'ship, 172 Wis. 2d 660, 668, 494 N.W.2d 204 (1993)). Any use not in accordance with the specific right to use granted in the easement is outside the easement's scope and thus prohibited. See Grygiel v. Monches Fish & Game Club, Inc., 2010 WI 93, ¶34, 328 Wis. 2d 436, 787 N.W.2d 6. ¶24 For a written easement, [t]he primary source of the parties' intent is what is written within the four corners of the deed. Konneker, 326 Wis. 2d 268, ¶26. Thus, we look to the deed of easement10——here the 1969 easement——to determine what right to use the dominant estate holder has. ¶25 If the language contained in the deed of easement is unambiguous, we look no further than the deed of easement itself. Id. However, if the language is ambiguous, we resort to extrinsic evidence to help us determine the parties' intentions. Id. In this case, we conclude that the 1969 easement is unambiguous, and we need look no further than the language contained in the 1969 easement.