Lyon v. Melino

Apr 28, 1995
Versions:214 A.D.2d 992
626 N.Y.S.2d 339
1995 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6736

Judgment unanimously reversed on the law with costs and judgment granted in accordance with the following Memorandum: Supreme Court erred in determining that plaintiffs acquired a prescriptive easement over the east-west driveway on defendant’s property. To establish a prescriptive easement, plaintiffs were required to show by clear and convincing evidence that their use of the driveway was "adverse, open and notorious, continuous and uninterrupted for the prescriptive period” (Di Leo v Pecksto Holding Corp., 304 NY 505, 512; see, Lucas v Benjamin, 213 AD2d 1015; Miller v Rau, 193 AD2d 868, 868-869). Plaintiffs failed to meet that burden. It is undisputed that plaintiffs’ use of the driveway was in common with the general public. Plaintiffs, therefore, were required to show "some distinctive and decisive act on [plaintiffs’] or [their] predecessors’ part indicating an exercise of exclusive right sufficient to notify the owner of the user and of the claim of right” (Pro-Fac Coop, v Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co., 36 AD2d 441, 444; see, Pirman v Confer, 273 NY 357, 363, rearg denied 274 NY 570, mot to amend remittitur granted 275 NY 624; Susquehanna Realty Corp. v Barth, 108 AD2d 909). Similarly, because the use of the driveway was originally permissive in nature, it was incumbent upon plaintiffs to show the "assertion of a hostile right which is made known to the property owner” (Hassinger v Kline, 91 AD2d 988, 989; see, Susquehanna Realty Corp. v Barth, supra). Plaintiffs, however, failed to present proof of any act on their part that would provide notice of a hostile claim to defendant or his predecessor (see, Hasgo Power Equip. Sales v Lewis, 213 AD2d 1016; Midollo v Fanelli, 186 AD2d 545; Merriam v 352 W. 42nd St. Corp., 14 AD2d 383, 386). We, therefore, grant judgment in favor of defendant declaring that plaintiffs have not acquired a prescriptive easement over the east-west driveway on defendant’s property. (Appeal from Judgment of Supreme Court, Ontario County, Curran, J.—Prescriptive Easement.) Present—Green, J. P., Pine, Callahan, Doerr and Boehm, JJ.