Court Opinion

ID: 3668614
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:17:49.744838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:18.455300
License: Public Domain

Plaintiff and defendant are adjacent landowners of several lots situate in the city of Durham, N.C. and plaintiff claims an easement, or perpetual right of user, in, to, and over an alleyway, ten feet wide and 65 feet in length, lying along the edge of defendant's property and adjoining one of the plaintiff's lots. *Page 340 
There was evidence tending to show that the defendant's land, as well as that claimed by the plaintiff, was originally owned by Martha Mangum. Plaintiff then undertook to establish his title, including the alleged easement in question, by offering mesne conveyances tending to connect his claim with the original title of Martha Mangum, defendant's predecessor in title and the common grantor of both parties. Plaintiff introduced a deed from Martha Mangum and husband to Rufus Massey, but it does not sufficiently appear in the evidence that Rufus Massey ever conveyed the land to any one, or that any of the persons under whom the plaintiff now claims derived title from (318) said Rufus Massey by descent or otherwise. There has been no actual possession of the strip of land in controversy. Hence, upon the record plaintiff has failed to make out a prima facie case.Mobley v. Griffin, 104 N.C. 113.
While this break in the plaintiff's chain of title would seem to be fatal, unless it can be cured, yet it does not appear from the instant record that any rights have been lost by mere nonuser or failure to open said alleyway. 9 R.C.L. 810.
For the reason assigned the judgment must be upheld.
Affirmed.