Opinion ID: 1954348
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Use of the Beach

Text: The same general principles of construction of the language of an instrument, as stated in the foregoing discussion, apply to this issue. However, we note that the ore tenus presumption of correctness applies only to the resolution of disputed facts and that if the facts are undisputed, the appellate court must determine whether the trial court misapplied the law to the facts. Home Indemnity Co. v. Reed Equipment Co., 381 So.2d 45 (Ala.1980). The trial court defined beach as that word is used in the document creating the easement to mean the soft sandy area between the mean high tide line and the vegetation line, which area is privately owned by Beall and is not subject to use by the public. The trial court determined that Beall's west property line extends to the mean high tide line of Mobile Bay. (See Appendix.) Considering this definition of the word beach in this particular document, the trial court held that Fouts was entitled to use any portion of the soft sandy area of Mobile Bay that lay between the waters of the bay and the mean high tide line, which area was not owned by Beall, in the same manner as any member of the public. The trial court also held that Fouts was entitled to the complete use of the area within the 10-foot beach access easement, including that area between the mean high tide line and the vegetation line, but could not use any portion of the area between the mean high tide line and the vegetation line that lay outside the 10 feet. Neither Fouts nor Beall disagrees with the trial court's definition of the word beach in the easement document. However, Fouts argues that the easement grant included the right to use the area that lay between the mean high tide line and the vegetation line, even that portion outside the 10 feet running along the south side of Beall's property. He argues that the trial court's ruling does not give him any rights different from the rights of any member of the public. We disagree with this construction of the trial court's decree. Under the easement before the trial court, Fouts was given a short cut to the bay that he otherwise would not have. Without this right of access, he would be required to use his automobile to drive to another area in order to attain access to the waters of the bay. Fouts relies upon Anderson v. De Vries, 326 Mass. 127, 93 N.E.2d 251 (1950), as support for his argument that he is entitled to use the sandy area extending outside the width of the easement and across Beall's property. We find the facts in Anderson distinguishable from the facts in this case. In Anderson, residents of a sea shore resort were granted a 12-foot-wide easement to the beach. Considering the numerous lot owners involved and the fact that the width of the easement did not provide a sufficient area for use, the court found that the intentions of the parties were that the lot owners were to have access to the entire area above the mean high water mark, including that area outside the 12 feet. In the instant case, only one lot owner is involved and there is evidence to support a finding that it was intended that he be entitled to use only that portion of Beall's property that lay within the 10-foot boundaries of his easement. Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not misapply the law to the facts.