Music: Madonna, I’m Breathless (1992)

Music: Madonna, I’m Breathless (1992)

Coming AttractionsMon 4/16: Make-Up Class 8:00-8:55 am (here)Wed 4/18: Beatles & Grateful Dead Critiques

DueFri 4/20: Course EvaluationsMon 4/23: Make-Up Class 8:00-8:55 am (here)Wed 4/25: Closing Up

DQ113: Title Search with Grantor-Grantee Indexes

Purchasing from Mr. Carroll. How do you begin?


Purchasing from Mr. Carroll.

1. Check grantee index under Carroll going backward from present. You find record of deed: Byers Carroll (1984). What now?



1. Deed: Byers Carroll (1984).

2. Check grantee index under Byers going backward from 1984. You find record of deed: Arias Byers (1969). What now?



1. Deed: Byers Carroll (1984).

2. Deed: Arias Byers (1969).

3. Check grantee index under Byers going backward from 1984. You find record of deed: U.S. Govt Arias (1962). What now?


From Grantee Index:• Byers Carroll

(1984). • Arias Byers

(1969).• U.S. Govt Arias

(1962).

Check grantor index to see if Arias conveyed any interests between 1962 and 1969. You find nothing until Arias Byers deed in 1969. What Next?





(1962).

• Arias Byers (1969).

Check grantor index to see if Byers conveyed any interests between 1969 and 1984. You find easement granted to Electric Co. in 1971 & nothing else until Byers Carroll deed in 1984. What Next?





(1962).

• Arias Byers (1969).• Byers Elec. Co. (1971)

(Easement) • Byers Carroll (1984).

Check grantor index to see if Carroll conveyed any interests between 1984 and the present PLUS check to see if Electric Co. released or transferred the easement.

Nothing Additional. What Next?





(1962).

From Grantor Index:• Arias Byers (1969).• Byers Elec. Co.

(1971) (Easement) • Byers Carroll (1984).

Check all documents uncovered through index for content and references to unrecorded interests.

Tract Indexes

• Index transactions by location not names of parties

• Much easier to use for most types of transactions

• Exist almost everywhere privately; and as official public record in a few jurisdictions

• Many states have rules based on grantor-grantee indexes even if public or private tract indexes exist

Shelter Rule (Notice Jurisd.)

OA

OB (BFP)

A records

• In a notice jurisdiction, B wins over A as a subsequent BFP even though A recorded first

• Note that for A’s recording to serve as notice to B, it must have taken place prior to the time B purchases the land.


OA

OB(BFP)

A records

BC

Who wins A v. C?• The OA deed is recorded before

C’s purchase so C is not a BFP.


OA

OB(BFP)

A records

BC

Who wins A v. C?• The OA deed is recorded before

C’s purchase so C is not a BFP.• BUT: Shelter rule: Subsequent

purchaser from BFP stands in shoes of BFP and defeats prior interest– even if not BFP – unless original grantor

WHY?


OA

OB(BFP)

A records

BC

• Protects title of a BFP from recording or adverse publicity that occurs subsequent to purchase. Otherwise, couldn’t sell, so victory over A worthless

Otten Sells Land to Both Alexander and Bell; Flees to

Cayman Islands

Tattler Exclusive:Seller’s Friends Say

Not Surprised.

Buyers Confused, Angry: Who Will Get the Land and Who Will Have to Chase After Otten?


Otten Alexander

Otten Bell (BFP)

Massive Publicity on Slow News DayMassive Publicity on Slow News Day

Bell Creech (Actual Notice; Not BFP)

Creech wins over Alexander to give value to Bell’s interest

CHAIN OF TITLE PROBLEMS

Problems in way things are recorded or indexed that frustrate basic search. If significant enough: – Can mean no record notice– Can mean not “recorded” for purpose of

race-notice

CHAIN OF TITLE PROBLEMS

Problems in way things are recorded or indexed that frustrate basic search. Examples: (FYI; not tested)

• Documents recorded out of usual order• Document refers to several lots w/o listing

individually (all land owned by X)• Same person referred to by different name on

later document– misspelling– name change or multiples

1948 Grant to Elizabeth Taylor

Where do you look in the grantor index going forward?


Where do you look in the grantor index?

1950Elizabeth Taylor Hilton



1952Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding




Todd




Todd Fisher




Todd Fisher Burton




Todd Fisher Burton Burton




Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner




Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky

PROMISSORY SERVITUDES:TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS

• Runyon v. Paley: Lot limited to residence only & not more than 2 residences; restriction terminates if area changes character

• Davidson Bros.: Can’t put supermarket or grocery store on lot for 40 years

PROMISSORY SERVITUDES:TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS (1)

with

FLEETWOOD MAC

DQ114: INTENT TO RUN

Generally: Fact Question

• Can be explicit language in the covenant– Davidson Bros. “This restriction shall be a

covenant attached to and running with the lands”

– Runyon (burden only): “running with said land by whomsoever owned”

• Can be inferred from circumstances


Runyon: Agreement was explicit about intent regarding the burden running, but not the benefit.

What evidence did the court rely on to determine that the parties also intended the benefit to run?


Runyon: evidence that the parties intended the benefit to run?

• Explicit intent to have burden run indefinitely suggests right to enforce also must run

• Limit to residential use significantly affects value of nearby lots; suggests tied to land

• Circumstances suggest concern with character of neighborhood– part of secluded parcel – she continued to live next door there & receive benefit


Runyon: evidence that the parties intended the benefit to run?

• Court doesn’t mention, but note she died the year after the transaction.

• Could argue that if she was old or very ill when provision was drafted, not much point in restricting just for herself .

DQ115: NOTICE

1.Actual Notice2.Record Notice3.Inquiry Notice

DQ115: NOTICE

1.Actual Notice: Fact Question

– Conceded in Davidson Bros.

2.Record Notice3.Inquiry Notice

DQ115: NOTICE

1.Actual Notice: Fact Question2.Record Notice: Constructive

Notice of Documents Properly Recorded

– Agreement in Runyon was in records, so what was disputed?

3. Inquiry Notice

DQ115: NOTICE: Runyon

Like Intent Issue: Ds claim that notice must include explicit reference to benefit running. Court says sufficient notice from:

• Notice that burden intended to run; • Notice from records that lot carved

from larger parcel part of which is retained by O

Looks like trying to protect laymen by not insisting on technical requirements

DQ115: NOTICE

1. Actual Notice2. Record Notice3. Inquiry Notice: Actual or

constructive notice of facts that suggest 3d party interest.

• Can be on face of property; duty to inspect

• Can be in documents in chain of title

DQ115: NOTICE

1. Actual Notice2. Record Notice

3. Inquiry Notice: Strict duty to inquire

• Need to inquire directly of persons with apparent claim; not grantor b/c incentive to lie

• If don’t inquire – held to knowledge of 3d party

interest. – can’t argue that inquiry wd have been

futile

DQ115: NOTICE


3.Inquiry Notice: Examples

• Actual possession always is notice – can be residence or other regular use

– if someone you don’t know on land: ask

DQ115: NOTICE


3.Inquiry Notice: Examples

• Actual possession always is notice

• Other signs of use or ownership– paths: inquire of n-bors– signs of occasional use

DQ116-17: PRIVITY

HORIZONTAL: Sufficient Relationship Betw. Original Parties?

• Trad’l common law: needed consecutive estates– landlord-tenant– life estate & reversion

• American jurisdictions allow mutual interest in same land (e.g. easement)

• Most states allow grantor-grantee– both Runyon & Davidson fit here

• Trend toward abolishing

DQ117: PRIVITY

The comment to the Restatement (quoted on P895) says the requirement of horizontal privity “can easily be circumvented with a conveyance to a strawperson….” What does this mean?

E.g., Dorothy and Glinda are neighbors. They agree to mutual restrictions on their lots (all paving must be yellow brick) and want them to be enforceable as real covenants. What do they do?

DQ117: PRIVITY

Conveyance to a strawperson: Dorothy Scarecrow (fee simple)Glinda Scarecrow (fee simple)then immediately after & simultaneously:Scarecrow Dorothy (fee simple with yellow

brick covenant)Scarecrow Glinda (fee simple with yellow

brick covenant)Why is the availability of this approach

significant?

DQ116: PRIVITY

VERTICAL: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORIGINAL PARTY TO THE TRANSACTION AND CURRENT PARTY TO THE DISPUTE

• Traditionally needed same estate– Usually, grantor-grantee works (Davidson)– In landlord-tenant context, assignees but not

sublessees in vertical privity with tenants

• Some jurisdictions: Any legal successor

DQ116: PRIVITY

VERTICAL: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORIGINAL PARTY TO THE TRANSACTION AND CURRENT PARTY TO THE DISPUTE

• In Runyon, why is vertical privity met as to Williams and not as to the Runyons?

• If you were the lawyer for Mrs. Gaskins and she wanted the Runyons to be able to enforce the provision, what could you have done?

PROMISSORY SERVITUDES:TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS (2)

With THE

EAGLES

PROMISSORY SERVITUDES:IMPLIED FROM A COMMON

SCHEME

with the

Temptations

Music: Madonna, I’m Breathless (1992)

Documents

Transcript of Music: Madonna, I’m Breathless (1992)