Opinion ID: 3053462
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Easement by Necessity

Text: [1] The doctrine of easement by necessity applies, generally, against the United States. Mont. Wilderness Ass’n v. United States Forest Serv., 496 F. Supp. 880, 885 (D. Mont. 1980); see also United States v. Dunn, 478 F.2d 443, 444 & n.2 (9th Cir. 1973). “An easement by necessity is created when: (1) the title to two parcels of land was held by a single owner; (2) the unity of title was severed by a conveyance of one of the parcels; and (3) at the time of severance, the easement was necessary for the owner of the severed parcel to use his property.” Fitzgerald II, 460 F.3d at 1266 (citations omitted). [2] However, an easement by necessity does not exist if the claimant has another mode of access to his property. See id.; see also Mackie v. United States, 194 F. Supp. 306, 308 (D. Minn. 1961). In fact, necessity may be defeated by alternative routes or modes of access—no matter how inconvenient. See Mackie, 194 F. Supp. at 308 (finding no necessity where plaintiff could drive within one-third mile of a lake, carry his supplies to the lake, load a boat and cross the lake to his property). McFarland has year-round access to his property over Glacier Route 7. In the winter, this access is limited to nonmotorized means. We conclude that even subject to the seasonal limitations imposed by the Park Service, and in spite of the associated inconvenience, McFarland enjoys sufficient access to his property to defeat a finding of easement by necessity.