Court Opinion

ID: 9543351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:44:39.949572+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:10:11.108141
License: Public Domain

NEAL, Judge,
dissenting.
It is well settled that the owner of a servient estate may use his property in any manner and for any purpose consistent with the enjoyment of the easement and the owner of the dominant estate cannot interfere with the use. Holding v. Indiana & Michigan Electric Company (1980), Ind.App., 400 N.E.2d 1154. Thus, it was beyond the power of Tri-County to control the property or to intercede in the use of the land regarding the hole because the hole did not interfere with Tri-County's use of its easement. The majority opinion imposes upon the utility the impossible burden of discovering every rut or hole existing on other peoples' property, over which it has no control, for the owner's own convenience or whim, in which someone may step, and supervise his every move. Such a rule is neither practical nor workable.
I would affirm the trial court's summary judgment.