Court Opinion

ID: 9717049
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 06:56:50.175316+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:50.882428
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE HEIPLE, dissenting: I do not agree that the doctrine of boundary by acquiescence supports the result reached by the majority. The location of the boundary must have been in dispute or unascertained at some time in the past and then acquiesced in, in order that the boundary be established by acquiescence. The instant case is quite different. The majority finds that the present dispute over the boundary line is sufficient to bring the instant case within the scope of the doctrine. Such a position is untenable. The doctrine of boundary by acquiescence is a well-settled rule providing for resolution of a dispute. Barring such a dispute, or if the location of the boundary is known, a parol agreement to change the boundary is ineffective, by itself, to pass title or to change the original grant. (Wright v. Hendricks (1944), 388 Ill. 431.) Simply stated, the parties must record a deed. The record reveals that prior to the present litigation, the boundary line was'never unascertained. The lots were surveyed and platted. While the exact line was not obvious without reference to surveyors’ pins, the line was indeed ascertainable. Moreover, no dispute arose between the present or the former landowners as to the boundary line between the adjoining lots. And as to the present dispute, there is no acquiescence. Thus, this case is outside the application of the doctrine. The testimony of the landowners indicates that the boundary line was believed by them to be the east edge of the concrete driveway. The concrete driveway endured until 1973 when Boyer’s predecessor had the concrete driveway and garage removed. These were replaced by a larger two car garage and blacktop driveway. There is much conflicting evidence as to where the blacktop driveway was placed in relation to the original concrete one. From the testimony and from the photographs, it is apparent that we may not assume that the blacktop driveway was limited to the area covered by the concrete driveway. The trial judge, in his order of February 29,1980, and relying on the doctrine of boundary by acquiescence, determined the boundary to be the most easterly edge of the concrete driveway and “consequently that the easterly edge of lot 40 is the easterly side of the blacktop driveway now existing on the east side of lot 40 * * This is not supported by the record. The easterly edge of lot 40 is where the surveyors said it is. That is the evidence the trial court should have heeded in this case. For the reasons herein stated, I dissent from the views and result reached by the majority. This case should be reversed and remanded.