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Drawdy Investment Co. v. Leonard, (1947)

Court: Supreme Court of Florida Number:  Visitors: 4
Judges: BUFORD, J.:
Attorneys: Robert L. Hodges, Claude L. Gray and Dorothea C. Watson, for appellant. A. Summerlin and Crofton Wilson, for appellee.
Filed: Jan. 31, 1947
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: The appeal is from judgment rendered in an ejectment action in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff who, claimed title to certain land by adverse possession. The judgment was as follows: "This cause came on to be further heard on defendants motion for judgment after due notice to plaintiff and the court being advised fully in the premises finds that no sufficient bill of particulars has been filed as required by Law Rule 85 in that on October 21, 1942, plaintiff filed its declaration in
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The alleged fact that complainant owned lands embraced within the single enclosure (being alternate sections) does not state a novel situation. It very frequently occurs that a person claims by adverse possession lands adjacent to lands concerning which he holds record title, the whole being comprehended within one enclosure.

It also appears settled that an enclosure may depend in part upon a natural barrier.

See 2 C.J.S. Sec. 26, page 541, and cases there cited, especially Alice State Bank v. Houston Pasture Co., 38 S. Ct. 496, 247 U.S. 240.

A person may often enclose lands by erection of a fence on less than all sides simply by connecting with the fence or fences of his neighbor erected along one or more sides, where the same exists. For the purpose of this hearing it appears immaterial who erected the north boundary fence, if in fact it be true as alleged, plaintiff maintained all fences about the enclosure. To the writer it appears that a person may enter *Page 456 upon an enclosed tract and in course of time might acquire title thereto if he protects same by substantial enclosure and otherwise adversely holds same as provided by statute.

The statute in question refers to a substantial enclosure, and does not refer to a statutory legal fence. Certainly the statutory legal fence is a substantial one; however, the terms are not synonymous.

The bill of particulars does state as an alleged fact when plaintiff began occupancy of the land, the construction and maintenance of fences which with the barriers described it is alleged "constituted a perfect and complete enclosure so as to establish a, substantial cattle-proof enclosure." There is the further allegation as a fact "and continuously kept up and maintained said fences as installed and in proper state of repairs and exclusive possession of all lands within said enclosure, and such possession was open, uninterrupted, notorious, hostile, etc., beginning 1917 to and including 1938." And plaintiff states "use of land by its tenant, Calvin Platt, began March 6, 1927, by use of the property as pasture, construction of fences and cross fences, establishing artesian wells, cattle pens, camping sheds and dipping vats on the property, and that between the years 1917 and 1938 plaintiff obtained large quantities of timber therefrom."

These and other allegations of fact in the bill of particulars should entitle plaintiff to the right of offering proof to sustain same and, therefore, I think the order and judgment of the trial court should be reversed.

Source:  CourtListener

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