Summary 2012 WY 36

Summary of Decision March 9, 2012


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Case Name: Marjorie E. Bedessem, Trustee of the Marjorie E. Bedessem Revocable Trust Agreement UTA Dated November 25, 2008 v. David P. Cunningham and Susan M. Cunningham

Docket Number: S-11-0127

URL: http://wyomcases.courts.state.wy.us/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=465175

Appeal from the District Court of Albany County, Honorable Jeffrey A. Donnell, Judge

Representing Appellant (Plaintiff/Defendant): M. Gregory Weisz of Pence and MacMillan LLC, Laramie, Wyoming

Representing Appellee (Plaintiff/Defendant): Steven F. Freudenthal of Freudenthal & Bonds, P.C., Cheyenne, Wyoming

Date of Decision: March 9, 2012

Facts: Marjorie Bedessem (Bedessem), as trustee of her revocable trust, filed a complaint against David and Susan Cunningham (Cunninghams), seeking enforcement of an easement across the Cunningham property to access the Bedessem property. Bedessem claimed an implied access easement or, in the alternative, access pursuant to the restrictive covenants applicable to both properties. The district court found no evidence of an implied easement and that the restrictive covenants authorized only the Architectural Control Committee to sue for enforcement of the covenants. On those grounds it granted Cunninghams’ summary judgment motion.

Issues: On appeal, Bedessem did not challenge the district court’s finding on the implied easement claim and presented only the following issue: Whether the District Court erred when it ruled that Plaintiff did not have standing to enforce a restrictive covenant against Defendants.

Holdings: The Covenants applicable to the Large Tracts grant the Architectural Control Committee the sole right to enforce the Covenants, and the court affirmed the district court’s summary judgment order.

Justice Golden delivered the opinion for the court.