The Superior Court of Floyd County denied Navajo Construction, Inc.’s motion for summary judgment on its trespass claim against Allen and Amy Brigham and granted the Brighams’ cross-motion for summary judgment on that claim. In the same order, the trial court denied the Brighams’ motion for summary judgment on Navajo’s negligence claim. Navajo appeals, contеnding the trial court misconstrued the law regarding a continuing trespass. For the reasons which follow, we affirm the dеnial of Navajo’s motion for summary judgment and reverse the grant of the Brighams’ cross-motion for summary judgment on Navаjo’s trespass claim.
Summary judgment is proper when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the movаnt is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. OCGA § 9-11-56 (c). To obtain summary judgment, a defendant need not produce any еvidence, but must only point to an absence of evidence supporting at least one essential element of the plaintiffs claim. Lau’s Corp. v. Haskins,261 Ga. 491 (405 SE2d 474 ) (1991). We apply a de novo standard of review to an appeal from a grant of summary judgment and view the evidence, and all reasonable conclusions and inferences drawn from it, in the light most favorable to the nonmovant.
(Citation omitted.)
Ponder v. Brooks,
Viewed in this light, the record shows the following undisputed facts. In 2001, Russell Hall Cоnstruction, Inc. built a “spec” house on a lot its principal owned in a new subdivision. Russell Hall made all decisiоns regarding the dimensions of the house and its placement on the lot. On October 30, 2001, without first obtaining a survey of the рroperty, the Brighams bought the house from Russell Hall. On October 9, 2002, Navajo purchased the lot next door to the Brighams’ home, intending to build a spec house on it. Navajo did not obtain a survey of the parcel before purchasing it. On April 30,2003, a survey showed that the Brighams’ home encroached on Navajo’s lot by approximаtely two feet; the fence line encroached over five feet. Navajo filed suit against Russell Hall and the Brighams, asserting claims for trespass and negligence. Russell Hall filed no answer and initiated bankruptcy liquidatiоn proceedings, staying the action against it.
In ruling on cross-motions for summary judgment, the trial court found:
[tjhere is no evidence the Brighams had any responsibility for where or how the house and fence were constructed, nor is there any evidence that Defendant Russell Hall was acting as an agent of the Brighams. Therefore, as а matter of law, Defendants Allen and Amy Brigham cannot be found liable for Defendant Russell Hall Construction’s trespаss.
In general terms, the owner of real property has the right “to possess, use, enjoy, and dispose of it, and the corresponding right to exclude others from the use.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.)
Woodside v. City of Atlanta,
In this case, it is undisputed that the Brighams’ home encroaches on Navajo’s property. 2 Any such encroachmеnt necessarily interferes with Navajo’s right to possess, use, enjoy, and dispose of its entire parcel. Although the Brighams did not cause the encroachment, they intentionally possess and occupy the encrоaching structure. 3 Because Navajo adduced evidence making out a prima facie claim of trespass, the trial court erred in granting the Brighams’ motion for summary judgment. But it is also undisputed that, after failing to obtain a survey of the property, Navajo purchased its parcel with the encroaching structure already in place. Because the Brighams have adduced evidence in support of their defenses on the trespass claim, the trial court correctly denied Navajo’s motion for summary judgment.
Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Notes
Although Navajo did not titlе a count of its complaint “ejectment,” it did pray for relief in the form of removal of the offending structurеs.
We note that the Brighams have raised no challenge to Navajo’s title, such as by disputing the survey or by claiming thеy acquired title to the encroached-upon area by adverse possession.
As the Brighams correctly argue, they cannot he held vicariously liable for Russell Hall’s conduct in building the house and fence aсross the property line of Navajo’s predecessor in title, in the absence of evidence Russell Hall acted as their agent.
Davis v. Beard,