Court Opinion

ID: 9794352
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 03:04:29.274824+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:46.214166
License: Public Domain

CROCKETT, Justice
(concurring).
I concur in affirming the judgment but think it preferable to do so upon the basis that the trial court decided it: that is, that the ditch in question was not such an open and visible easement that the plaintiffs should be charged with knowledge thereof. Whether under other circumstances a ditch, canal or other easement was so, and a purchaser would be charged with knowledge thereof, might depend upon the facts of the case. That is the basis upon which the cases relating to highways and railroad rights of way rest, and I see no reason why it should be restricted to those particular things. The principle and not the subject matter should be the controlling consideration. If the easement is of such a character and use as to be open and notorious, and the purchaser knows of its existence, he should not be permitted to accept the conveyance, and then claim breach of covenant with respect to something about which he had full knowledge. The trial court here found that the easement was not of the character just stated, and that the plaintiff did not have knowledge thereof. I would affirm the judgment upon the same basis.