Opinion ID: 1423798
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Chen I Appeal Proceedings.

Text: The appeal was assigned to the Idaho Court of Appeals, which issued its opinion on October 17, 1989. Chen v. Conway, [ Chen I ], 116 Idaho 901, 781 P.2d 238 (Ct.App.1989). In the Chen I opinion, the Court of Appeals vacated the judgment of the district court and remanded the case for further proceedings. The Court of Appeals held that the district court, which was sitting without a jury, erred by not making specific findings of fact, as required by I.R.C.P. 52(a), regarding the elements of a prescriptive easement, as enunciated in Melendez v. Hintz, 111 Idaho 401, 404, 724 P.2d 137, 140 (Ct.App.1986). The Court of Appeals held that it was clear that Conway's use of the driveway has been open, notorious, continuous, and uninterrupted for more than the prescriptive period and that the Chens' predecessors-in-interest had knowledge of Conway's use for the requisite prescriptive period. The Court, however, remanded the case with six questions for the district court to answer. The six questions were: 1. Was Conway's use of the driveway made under a claim of right ( i.e., was it hostile)? 2. Was Conway's use of the driveway initiated with the permission of the Chens or their predecessors-in-interest? 3. If Conway's use was initially permissive, did such use thereafter become adverse ( i.e., hostile) and what facts establish that it became adverse? 4. Did Conway jointly use the driveway with the Chens or the predecessors-in-interest of the Chens? 5. If there was a joint use, who established and maintained the driveway? 6. If there was a joint use, did Conway merely use the driveway in common with the Chens or the Chens' predecessors-in-interest or did such use by Conway constitute some infringement or invasion of the rights of the Chens or of their predecessors-in-interest? Chen I, 116 Idaho at 903-04, 781 P.2d at 240-41. Since no memorandum of costs on appeal was filed, costs were waived. The remittitur was filed on November 14, 1989.