Quarter Circle JP Ranch, LLC v. Jerde

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The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the district court in this case involving a dispute over a road easement.Quarter Circle JP Ranch, LLC sought declaratory relief that Barbara Jerde, in Counts I-III, (1) improperly deviated from the easement onto Quarter Circle’s unburdened property, (2) used the easement to access certain property not benefitted by the easement, and (3) used the easement for residential purposes that were not contemplated by the easement. The district court granted summary judgment for Quarter Circle on Counts I-II and granted summary judgment to Jerde on Count III of the complaint. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the district court (1) erred by concluding the road easement “for the purpose of conducting farming and ranching operations and activities” was specific in nature and unambiguously included residential use; (2) did not err by concluding that the Jerde contract property was not subject to the easement; and (3) did not err by denying joinder of the owner of the after-acquired property to the litigation. View "Quarter Circle JP Ranch, LLC v. Jerde" on Justia Law