270 P.3d 548
Utah Ct. App.2012Background
- Quiet title action over a beachfront stretch at Bear Lake within Spinnaker Point, a hybrid condo project with both traditional condo units and single-family lots.
- Spinnaker Point was created in 1984; in 2001 the property was re-platted/amended to five lots, with Lots 1,3,4,5 designated for single-family dwellings.
- A Limited Common Area (LCA) consisting of a corridor between Lots 2 and 3 and a beachfront area abutting Lots 2 and 3 was created and cross-hatched on the plat.
- Dispute centers on whether the LCA is owned equally by Condo Owners and Lot Owners or solely by Condo Owners; Exhibit C of the Amended Declaration vs. a note on the Amended Plat appear to conflict.
- Trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the Lot Owners; the Utah Court of Appeals affirms, holding equal undivided interests in the LCA for both groups; declaratory action shows no default by Condo Owners; no attorney fees awarded on appeal.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership of the Limited Common Area | Lot Owners and Condo Owners share 14.286% each per Exhibit C | Condo Owners own the LCA exclusively per Amended Plat note | Equal undivided interests for Lot Owners and Condo Owners |
| Attorney fees under the Amended Declaration | Fees should be awarded to prevailing party under declaration | No default or breach; Faulkner controls; fees denied | No attorney fees awarded on cross-appeal |
Key Cases Cited
- Country Oaks Condominium Mgmt. Comm. v. Jones, 851 P.2d 640 (Utah 1993) (definition of a unit and how declarations govern interests under the Act)
- Shiba v. Shiba, 186 P.3d 329 (Utah 2008) (tenants in common presumed equal shares in common property)
- Faulkner v. Farnsworth, 714 P.2d 1149 (Utah 1986) (attorney fees awarded only when contract allows and default shown)
- Gardiner v. York, 153 P.3d 791 (Utah 2006) (attorney fees reviewed for correctness under contract terms)
- Turtle Mgmt., Inc. v. Haggis Mgmt., Inc., 645 P.2d 667 (Utah 1982) (attorney fees awarded only as contract provides)
