Opinion ID: 2112342
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Presumption of Grant

Text: Appellants argue the special referee erred in failing to distinguish between the doctrines of adverse possession and presumption of grant, and in failing to apply presumption of grant to the facts of this case. We disagree. The special referee found no difference between the operation of the doctrines of adverse possession and presumption of grant in this case. Therefore, because rights may not be gained against the State by adverse possession, the special referee found Appellants' argument on this point fails. Appellants rely on section 15-3-310 of the South Carolina Code [4] as the basis for their argument. This section, Appellants' argue, requires the State to bring an action to settle title to real estate within twenty years of the action accruing. However, this Court has held this bar is predicated upon a presumption of possession which follows the establishment of legal title. State v. Fain, 273 S.C. 748, 755, 259 S.E.2d 606, 609 (1979) (relying upon State v. Yelsen Land Co., 265 S.C. 78, 216 S.E.2d 876 (1975)). The Fain court held that because the grants at issue did not convey title to the disputed property, no basis existed for the party's assertion of the bar of section 15-3-310. Similarly, in this case, Appellants did not receive title to the easement because it remained with SCDOT. Therefore, Appellants cannot claim section 15-3-310 as a bar to SCDOT's action, and the special referee did not err in failing to apply presumption of grant.