Opinion ID: 1160483
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standing to bring suit

Text: Contending that Bommer lacks standing to bring this action, Anderson asserts that § 12 of the restrictive covenants requires that an action can be brought only by the original declarant of the restrictive covenants or by a majority of the current subdivision owners: SECTION 12. That any violation of the covenants, conditions and restrictions contained herein may be enjoined in a court of laws [sic] or equity by the undersigned [the original declarant] or by a majority of the owners of said property, and any person violating said covenants, conditions and restrictions shall be liable for damages to the remaining owners. Section 12, however, is just one section out of many contained within the restrictive covenants. Pursuant to our standard of interpreting covenants as a whole, we must look also to other significant clauses found therein. Such significant and key clauses are found in the recitals to the restrictive covenants, which state: WHEREAS, The undersigned hereby certify and declare that they do hereby establish the following restrictions and covenants expressly for the beneficial development and improvement of said property; and WHEREAS, The power to enforce the following restrictions and covenants is to reside in the undersigned and all future owners of record of said property; NOW THEREFORE, The undersigned hereby declare that the property described and referred to above is and shall be held and conveyed upon and subject to the conditions, covenants, restrictions, reservations and charges hereinafter set forth, which are designed for the mutual benefits of the owners of said lots and shall inure to and pass with each and every lot therein, and which shall apply to and bind the Grantor and the Grantee, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns[.] These recitals are contained at the beginning of the restrictive covenants and are, hence, an expression of the intent and purpose for which the covenants were formulated. In resolving Anderson's contention that a majority of the owners must join in the suit, we are guided by our rule that contract provisions which apparently conflict must be reconciled if such can be done by any reasonable interpretation. Morris v. Kadrmas, 812 P.2d 549, 553 (Wyo.1991). As a general rule, a restrictive covenant may be enforced by one whose benefit it was made. 21 C.J.S. Covenants § 34 (1990). Here the recitals state that the covenants are for the beneficial development of the land, are for the mutual benefit of the owners and all future record owners, and that the power to enforce such covenants resides in all record owners. We conclude, therefore, that the recitals clearly and unambiguously grant the power to enforce the covenants in each and every record property owner. See Morris, at 553 (introductory language to covenants recited that the covenants were for the benefit of each and every lot and the owner or owners thereof, and an owner had the right to enforce the covenants and the legal right to correct any violation).