Opinion ID: 2549273
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: [¶ 4] Many of the facts underlying this case are the subject of dispute between the parties, especially those relating to the establishment and historical use of the Trail. Our view of the evidence on appeal is determined by the procedural status of the case: Summary judgment is appropriate when no genuine issue as to any material fact exists and the prevailing party is entitled to have a judgment as a matter of law. A genuine issue of material fact exists when a disputed fact, if it were proven, would have the effect of establishing or refuting an essential element of the cause of action or defense which has been asserted by the parties. We examine the record from the vantage point most favorable to the party who opposed the motion, and we give that party the benefit of all favorable inferences which may fairly be drawn from the record. We evaluate the propriety of a summary judgment by employing the same standards and by using the same materials as were employed and used by the lower court. We do not accord any deference to the district court's decisions on issues of law. Matlack v. Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, 2002 WY 60, ¶ 6, 44 P.3d 73, ¶ 6 (Wyo.2002) (quoting Baker v. Pena, 2001 WY 122, ¶ 6, 36 P.3d 602, ¶ 6 (Wyo.2001) (citations omitted)). [¶ 5] The Forbeses' ranch contains lands in Sections 22, 29, 30, and 31 of Township 55 North, Range 86 West, 6th P.M., Sheridan County, Wyoming. The parcels of land were added to the Forbeses' ranch over time through patenting by their ancestors or through purchase from other parties between 1903 and 1939. The Soldier Creek Trail or Toll Road provides access to the Big Horn National Forest and adjacent state trust lands. It begins at the western terminus of the Beckton Big Horn Mountain Road (County Road No. 52 also commonly referred to as the P K Lane). The Trail begins on property owned by the Forbeses at the western terminus of the P K Lane and winds across state land and crosses back onto the Forbeses' property before it enters the Big Horn National Forest. [¶ 6] While there is a serious dispute between the parties as to whether or not the Trail existed prior to the Forbeses' homestead of the land, there is some evidence suggesting that The Sheridan, Bald Mountain and Big Horn Basin Toll Road Company may have constructed the Trail in 1891 or 1892 to provide miners access to the Big Horn Mountains. According to the Defendants' affidavits, the public has used the Trail since its inception. The use of the Trail has ranged from running of cattle to state grazing lands at Walker Prairie since the early 1900's to outfitters and guides taking hunters into the Big Horn National Forest. The individual Defendants also set forth their own use of the Trail. John Yeager has used it to take clients to hunting camps in the Big Horn National Forest as a licensed outfitter since the late 1970's. George Rogers has used the Trail personally and as a licensed outfitter and guide since 1981. Larry Durante and John Reilly have used the Trail for personal enjoyment since 1990 and 1981 respectively. [¶ 7] Historically, the Forbeses have maintained signs along the Trail. While there is a dispute between the parties as to when the signs were originally put up, the Defendants acknowledged in their depositions that they have been in place since at least the early 1980's. The signs informed users that they had permission to use the Trail to access the Big Horn National Forest and if they desired to use the Trail for any other purpose, they had to obtain prior permission from the Forbeses. There were also signs prohibiting hunting on the Forbeses' property. [¶ 8] In 2001, the Forbeses apparently became exasperated with gates being left open along the Trail, interfering with their ranching operations. Accordingly, the Forbeses rerouted the Trail at its eastern terminus at the end of the P K Lane. A new sign was erected informing the public that they could use the new route at their discretion, but that if they desired to use the old route, they had to call in advance for permission. The Defendants disputed the right to alter the Trail because they believed that it was a public road. At least two of the Defendants were cited for trespassing for using the old route without obtaining the prior permission from the Forbeses. [¶ 9] On November 6, 2001, The Board of County Commissioners of Sheridan County held a public meeting. One of the items on the agenda was the dispute over the public or private nature of the Trail. The Board's minutes describe the consideration given to the issue: The Board now addressed a request from Cam and Spike Forbes regarding clarification on the Soldier Creek Toll Road. Chairman Brad Waters addressed the public, and read the following statement, which was prepared by the County Attorney, Matt Redle. 1) Interested parties have indicated their belief that the trail crossing the Forbes' property is a public road. Some have suggested that the trail lies along the route of the Soldier Creek Toll Road established by the Soldier Creek Toll Road Company in 1889 pursuant to Wyo.Rev.Stat. § 525 (1887). 2) A review of pertinent records of Sheridan County fails to show that Sheridan County ever established the trail in question as a county road pursuant to applicable Wyoming statute. 3) In 1907 Sheridan County did establish the Beckton-Big Horn Mountain Road (now known at PK Lane) as a county road. It has been suggested by interested parties that the Beckton-Big Horn Mountain Road overlies the lower portion of the Soldier Creek Toll Road. 4) A review of pertinent records of Sheridan County fails to disclose that the County ever claimed the portion of the trail under dispute. Neither do those records disclose that the County has ever expended any funds for construction, maintenance or other improvement to the trail in dispute. 5) This does not necessarily resolve the issue of whether the trail in question is a public thoroughfare. Neither is it within the jurisdiction of this Board to determine the rights, if any, of the Forbes' or interested members of the public to the use of the trail. Jurisdiction to determine the property rights of the interested parties lies with the courts. Attorney Charles E. Graves, representing the Citizens for Public Access handed out a letter and addressed the Board at this time, Mr. Graves stated that he agreed with the statement prepared by the County Attorney and requested the Commissioners urge both sides to try to settle this issue, rather than have the courts decide the issue. The Commissioners' exhortations were apparently insufficient. On November 20, 2001, the Forbeses filed a complaint in the district court requesting a declaration that the Defendants did not have any right to enter upon or travel across the Forbeses' land and asking for a permanent injunction prohibiting them from doing so. The Defendants responded by counterclaiming that: (1) The Trail was an established public road under Federal Revised Statute 2477 (1866), later codified at 42 U.S.C. § 932 (repealed 1976); (2) public use had established a public prescriptive easement; and (3) the Defendants' use had established a private prescriptive easement. [¶ 10] On January 16, 2002, the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Raymond Hutson, Dan Biebel, Fred Kusel, and Dan Reinke filed a Motion to Intervene as a matter of right pursuant to W.R.C.P. 24(a)(2). The district court denied the motion. The court noted that the Forbeses' request for injunctive relief was specifically limited in scope to the named Defendants and that the proposed interveners had acknowledged in their motion that, Even if the Court were to render a judgment in favor of one or the other side in the case, it would not have the effect of addressing any other person's or entity's use of the [Trail]. Accordingly, the district court denied the Motion to Intervene because the proposed interveners had not alleged that any of their individual rights were being harmed or that they would be precluded from pursuing legal action to enforce those rights, if any. [¶ 11] Subsequently, both parties filed motions for summary judgment, including supporting affidavits and exhibits. Without holding a hearing, the district court granted the Forbeses' motion. The district court concluded that it did not have the authority to declare the existence of a public road by mere public use. The court also found that the Defendants had failed to show any notice to the Forbeses to support their prescriptive easement claims. The Defendants have appealed the grant of the Forbeses' motion for summary judgment and the denial of the proposed interveners' motion to intervene as a matter of right.