IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS
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NO . 12-0348
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DAVID HAMRICK, MAGGIE HAMRICK, SUE BERTRAM AND STEVE BERTRAM ,
PETITIONERS AND CROSS-RESPONDENTS,
v.
TOM WARD AND BETSEY WARD, RESPONDENTS AND CROSS-PETITIONERS
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ON PETITIONS FOR REVIEW FROM THE
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
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Argued September 11, 2013
JUSTICE GUZMAN delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case presents the Court with an opportunity to provide clarity in an area of property law
that has lacked clarity for some time: implied easements. For over 125 years, we have distinguished
between implied easements by way of necessity (which we refer to here as “necessity easements”)
and implied easements by prior use (which we refer to here as “prior use easements”). We created
and have utilized the necessity easement for cases involving roadway access to previously unified,
landlocked parcels. Roadways by nature are typically substantial encumbrances on property, and we
accordingly require strict, continuing necessity to maintain necessity easements. By contrast, we
created and have primarily utilized the prior use easement doctrine for lesser improvements to the
landlocked parcel, such as utility lines that traverse the adjoining tract. We have required, to some
degree, a lesser burden of proof for prior use easements (reasonable necessity at severance rather
than strict and continued necessity) because they generally impose a lesser encumbrance on the
adjoining tract (e.g., a power line compared to a roadway). Today, we clarify that the necessity
easement is the legal doctrine applicable to claims of landowners asserting implied easements for
roadway access to their landlocked, previously unified parcel.
Here, a party claims a road that was necessary for access to its landlocked, previously unified
parcel is a prior use easement. The trial court and court of appeals agreed. We hold the necessity
easement doctrine governs this claim. Because we clarify the law of easements, we reverse the court
of appeals’ judgment and remand to the trial court for the party to elect whether to pursue such a
claim.
I. Background
In 1936, O. J. Bourgeois deeded 41.1 acres of his property in Harris County, Texas to his
grandson, Paul Bourgeois. During Paul’s ownership, a dirt road was constructed on the eastern edge
of the 41.1 acre tract, providing access from the remainder of the land to a public thoroughfare,
Richardson Road. In 1953, Paul deeded two landlocked acres of the tract to Alvin and Cora
Bourgeois, severing the 41.1 acres into two separate parcels. Alvin and Cora used the dirt road to
access their two acres. The two acre tract was subsequently transferred to Henry and Bettie Bush
in 1956, who sold the land to Henry Gomez in 1957. In 1967, Henry Gomez and his wife, Anna
Bell, built a house on the two acre tract with a listed address of 6630 Richardson Road. Anna Bell
became the sole owner of the two acre tract when Henry died in 1990.
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In the late 1990s, developer William Cook began construction of the Barrington Woods
subdivision on the remaining acreage of Paul Bourgeois’ property. Cook planned to close the dirt
road Anna Bell used to access her two acres and to construct a paved driveway for her to directly
access her property from a newly added paved street. But Anna Bell’s land was not platted, and
Harris County required a one foot reserve and barricade between her property and the new street,
which rendered the dirt road her only means of access. In February 2000, Cook unilaterally filed a
special restriction amendment to the subdivision’s deed restrictions. The special restriction
purported to create a “Prescriptive (Rear Access) Easement” along the southeast property line of Lots
3 and 4. It further stated, “[t]his Prescriptive Easement will also be used by Annabelle [sic] Gomez,”
and allowed Anna Bell a fifteen foot wide easement along the dirt road for herself, her family, social
guests, and service vehicles under 6,200 pounds. Anna Bell was not a party to the special restriction,
never discussed its contents with Cook, and did not learn of the existence of the document until
September 2005.
David and Maggie Hamrick, as well as Sue and Steve Bertram, (collectively “the Hamricks”)
purchased homes on Lots 3 and 4 in Barrington Woods—the property Anna Bell’s access easement
traversed to reach Richardson Road. The developer told the Hamricks initially and at closing that
when Anna Bell sold her home, the property would be platted, her access to the main road would
open, and the Hamricks would recover full use of the dirt road.
In February 2004, before the Hamricks closed on their home, Anna Bell sold her property to
Tom and Betsey Ward (collectively “the Wards”), subject to a life tenancy. After purchasing the
property, the Wards continued to use the dirt road. The Wards then reinforced the dirt road with
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gravel and made use of the road to construct a new home on the land. The Hamricks sued to enjoin
the Wards from using the dirt road. The trial court granted the Hamricks a temporary injunction in
April 2006, which prevented the Wards from using the easement for construction of their home. As
a result, the Wards platted the property, the barrier and reserve were removed, and a driveway was
built to provide the Wards access to the paved road and allow them to complete construction.
Nonetheless, the Wards pursued a counterclaim, arguing they had an implied, prior use easement to
use the dirt road and requesting the trial court enter a judgment declaring an unrestricted twenty-five
foot easement connecting their property to Richardson Road.
The trial court granted the Wards’ motion for summary judgment, finding they conclusively
proved the existence of a prior use easement running from the Wards’ property across the rear of the
Hamricks’ property to Richardson Road. The trial court did not specifically designate a width for
the easement. The trial court denied the Hamricks’ motion for summary judgment, which raised
affirmative defenses of bona fide purchaser, estoppel, and waiver. Finally, the trial court awarded
attorney’s fees of $215,000 to the Wards and $200,000 to the Hamricks.
The Hamricks appealed, arguing the Wards failed to prove both beneficial use of the
easement prior to severance and continuing necessity of the easement. The Hamricks further argued
that the trial court erred in denying summary judgment on their bona fide purchaser, estoppel, and
waiver defenses. The Wards cross-appealed, contending the trial court failed to designate a width
for the easement and erroneously awarded attorney’s fees to the Hamricks.
The court of appeals found the summary judgment evidence conclusively established
beneficial use of the road prior to severance as well as the necessity of the road, affirming the trial
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court. 359 S.W.3d 770, 776–79. The court unanimously held that the Wards were required to prove
necessity at the time of severance, not a continuing necessity as the Hamricks proposed. Id. at 777.
The court similarly overruled the Hamricks’ arguments concerning the affirmative defenses of
estoppel and waiver. Id. at 786–87. But the court of appeals determined a fact issue remained with
respect to the bona fide purchaser defense, such that the trial court erred in denying the Hamricks’
motion for summary judgment and granting the Wards’ motion. Id. at 785. The dissent noted that
reasonable jurors would not have differed concerning the fruits of an investigation, so the trial
court’s summary judgment should stand. Id. at 789–90 (Frost, J., concurring and dissenting).
With respect to the Wards’ issues on cross appeal, the court of appeals declined to consider
whether the trial court erred by failing to specify an easement width, and instead left this issue for
the trial court to re-examine on remand. Id. at 787. It also reversed and remanded the attorney’s fees
award. Id. Both parties petitioned this Court for review.
II. Discussion
The parties raise three distinct issues: (1) whether the Wards have an implied easement over
the Hamricks’ land despite a lack of continued necessity; (2) whether the Hamricks qualify as bona
fide purchasers so as to take the land free of any easement the Wards may have; and (3) the propriety
of the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees. Our disposition of the first issue precludes us from
reaching the remaining two.
A. Implied Easement
The Hamricks argue the court of appeals erred by concluding the Wards were only required
to demonstrate the necessity of the easement at the time of severance. The Wards counter that we
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have never before required continued necessity for prior use easements. As explained below, we
determine the applicable doctrine for roadway access to previously unified, landlocked parcels is the
necessity easement.
Under Texas law, implied easements fall within two broad categories: necessity easements
and prior use easements. See Koonce v. J.E. Brite Estate, 663 S.W.2d 451, 452 (Tex. 1984)
(necessity easement); Bickler v. Bickler, 403 S.W.2d 354, 357 (Tex. 1966) (prior use easement). But
the unqualified use of the general term “implied easement” has sown considerable confusion because
both a necessity easement and a prior use easement are implied and both arise from the severance
of a previously unified parcel of land.1 Seber v. Union Pac. R. Co., 350 S.W.3d 640, 648 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, no pet.). Further contributing to this confusion, courts have used
a variety of terms to describe both necessity easements2 and prior use easements.3 Despite imprecise
semantics, we have maintained separate and distinct doctrines for these two implied easements for
1
The Restatement of Property may also have added to confusion in these cases. Originally, the Restatement
did not differentiate between necessity easements and prior use easements, and instead merely listed a series of factors
to be considered by courts to determine whether an easement ought to be implied. R ESTATEM EN T O F P RO P . § 476 (1944).
But the Restatement Third contains separate sections with separate definitions, one for “Servitudes Created by Necessity”
and one for “Servitudes Implied from Prior Use.” R ESTATEM EN T (T H IR D ) OF P ROP .: S ERVITU D ES §§ 2.12, 2.15 (2000).
2
As one court of appeals has rightly observed: “It is apparent that whether an easement is denominated a ‘way
of necessity,’ an ‘easement by necessity,’ an ‘easement of necessity,’ ‘an implied easement by necessity,’ an ‘implied
reservation of an easement by necessity,’ or an ‘implied grant of a way of necessity’ the elements of each are identical.”
Daniel v. Fox, 917 S.W .2d 106, 111 (Tex. App.— San Antonio 1996, writ denied). This Court alone has used a wide
variety of terms in reference to implied easements by way of necessity. See, e.g., Koonce, 663 S.W .2d at 452 (“implied
easement by necessity”); Othen v. Rosier, 226 S.W .2d 622, 625— 26 (Tex. 1950) (“easement of necessity,” “way of
necessity,” and “implied reservation of a right of way by necessity”); Bains v. Parker, 182 S.W .2d 397, 398 (Tex. 1944)
(“right of way by necessity”); Alley v. Carleton, 29 Tex. 74, 78 (1867) (“way of necessity”).
3
This Court alone has employed three terms to refer to a prior use easement: “implied easement appurtenant,”
Drye v. Eagle Rock Ranch, Inc., 364 S.W .2d 196, 207 (Tex. 1962), “easement by implication,” Bickler, 403 S.W .2d at
356, and “quasi-easement,” Ulbricht v. Friedsam, 325 S.W .2d 669, 677 (Tex. 1959).
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well over a century. Today, we clarify that a party claiming a roadway easement to a landlocked,
previously unified parcel must pursue a necessity easement theory.
1. Necessity Easement
“Anyone who grants a thing to someone is understood to grant that without which the thing
cannot . . . exist.” James W. Simonton, Ways by Necessity, 25 COLUM . L. REV . 571, 572 (1925).
With similar emphasis on this ancient maxim, we recognized in 1867 that a necessity easement
results when a grantor, in conveying or retaining a parcel of land, fails to expressly provide for a
means of accessing the land. Alley v. Carleton, 29 Tex. 74, 78 (1867). When confronted with such
a scenario, courts will imply a roadway easement to facilitate continued productive use of the
landlocked parcel, rather than rigidly restrict access. Id.
To successfully assert a necessity easement, the party claiming the easement must
demonstrate: (1) unity of ownership of the alleged dominant and servient estates prior to severance;
(2) the claimed access is a necessity and not a mere convenience; and (3) the necessity existed at the
time the two estates were severed. Koonce, 663 S.W.2d at 452. As this analysis makes clear, a party
seeking a necessity easement must prove both a historical necessity (that the way was necessary at
the time of severance) and a continuing, present necessity for the way in question. Id. Once an
easement by necessity arises, it continues until “the necessity terminates.” Bains, 182 S.W.2d at 399
(“[A] way of necessity is a temporary right, which arises from the exigencies of the case and ceases
when the necessity terminates.”); see also Alley, 29 Tex. at 76 (providing “if the necessity for its use
ceases, the right also ceases”). The temporary nature of a necessity easement is thus consistent with
the underlying rationale; that is, providing a means of roadway access to land only so long as no
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other roadway access exists. Alley, 29 Tex. at 78 (“A way of necessity, however, must be more than
one of convenience, for if the owner of the land can use another way, he cannot claim by implication
to pass over that of another to get to his own.”).
Accordingly, it is no surprise that the balance of our jurisprudence on necessity easements
focuses on roadway access to landlocked, previously unified parcels. See Koonce, 663 S.W.2d at
452 (assessing a roadway easement by the standard of an easement by necessity); Duff v. Matthews,
311 S.W.2d 637, 641 (Tex. 1958) (same); Othen v. Rosier, 226 S.W.2d 622, 626 (Tex. 1950) (same);
Bains, 182 S.W.2d at 399 (same); Alley, 29 Tex. at 78 (same).
2. Prior Use Easements
Two decades after we established the necessity easement doctrine for roadways in Alley, we
found that framework to be ill suited for other improvements that nonetheless are properly construed
as implied easements. In Howell v. Estes, we addressed use of a stairwell to access two buildings.
12 S.W. 62, 62 (Tex. 1888). In Howell, a father had constructed adjoining two-story buildings that
jointly used a stairwell in one building. Id. When he died, he left one building to his son and the
other to his daughter. Id. In the wake of a familial dispute, the sibling who owned the building with
the stairwell denied use of it to the other sibling. Id.
Our preexisting doctrine for necessity easements could not adequately address such a
situation. The party seeking the easement likely could not claim strict necessity, as he was still able
to access his land and the bottom floor of his building.4 Id. But recognizing that the law should
4
W e recognized that he could access his second floor by building a stairwell for the then considerable sum of
$50. Howell, 12 S.W .2d at 62.
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afford a remedy, we established an alternate doctrine for assessing whether to recognize implied
easements for improvements across previously unified adjoining property as follows:
[I]f an improvement constructed over, under, or upon one parcel of land for the
convenient use and enjoyment of another contiguous parcel by the owner of both be
open and usable and permanent in its character . . . the use of such improvement will
pass as an easement, although it may not be absolutely necessary to the enjoyment
of the estate conveyed.
Id. at 63. Unlike necessity easements, which are implied out of the desire to avoid the proliferation
of landlocked—and therefore, unproductive—parcels of land, the rationale underlying the
implication of an easement based on prior use is not sheer necessity. Rather, as this Court has
expressly recognized, “[t]he basis of the doctrine [of prior use easements] is that the law reads into
the instrument that which the circumstances show both grantor and grantee must have intended, had
they given the obvious facts of the transaction proper consideration.” Mitchell v. Castellaw, 246
S.W.2d 163, 167 (Tex. 1952). There is a presumption that parties contracting for property do so
“with a view to the condition of the property as it actually was at the time of the transaction,” and
therefore, absent evidence to the contrary, such conditions which openly and visibly existed at the
time are presumed to be included in the sale. Miles v. Bodenheim, 193 S.W. 693, 696–97 (Tex. Civ.
App.—Texarkana 1917, writ ref’d).
This Court has explained the requirements for establishing a prior use easement as “fairly
standardized,” such that the party claiming a prior use easement must prove: (1) unity of ownership
of the alleged dominant and servient estates prior to severance; (2) the use of the claimed easement
was open and apparent at the time of severance; (3) the use was continuous, so the parties must have
intended that its use pass by grant; and (4) the use must be necessary to the use of the dominant
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estate. Drye v. Eagle Rock Ranch, 364 S.W.2d 196, 207–08 (Tex. 1962). Because the actual intent
of the parties at the time of severance is often elusive, these factors effectively serve as a proxy for
the contracting parties’ intent.
It is worth noting that we have elevated the proof of necessity for a subset of prior use
easement cases. A prior use easement may arise either by reservation (where the grantor of the
previously unified parcel retains the landlocked parcel) or by grant (where the grantor conveys the
landlocked parcel). We have expressly held that to establish a prior use easement implied by
reservation, a party must demonstrate strict necessity with respect to the easement claimed. Mitchell,
246 S.W.2d at 168. But, with respect to a prior use easement implied by grant, some ambiguity
remains as to whether a party must demonstrate strict necessity or reasonable necessity for a party
to succeed. See Drye, 364 S.W.2d at 208–09. Because we hold below that the Wards must pursue
an implied easement by way of necessity theory, we need not reach this question.
The factual circumstances in which we have discussed the prior use easement illuminate its
purpose. We have used the prior use easement doctrine to assess situations such as use of a stairwell
in an adjacent building,5 grazing cattle,6 and recreational use of adjoining property.7 In addition to
access, we have also discussed the application of the prior use easement doctrine to “a part[ition]
wall,” “a drain or aqueduct,” “a water [gas] or sewer line into the granted estate,” “a drain from the
land,” “light and air,” “lateral support,” and “water.” Drye, 364 S.W.2d at 207–08. In light of the
5
Howell, 12 S.W . at 62.
6
Ulbricht, 325 S.W .2d at 677.
7
Drye, 364 S.W .2d at 208.
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history and the purpose behind these two types of implied easements, we clarify when parties should
pursue each type of easement.
3. Roadway Easements to Landlocked, Previously Unified
Parcels Must Be Tried as Implied Easements by Way of Necessity
The Hamricks claim that we should inject continued necessity as a requirement for prior use
easements. The Wards claim that, despite the confusion between necessity easements and prior use
easements, we have never required continued necessity for prior use easements. We view the
pertinent question not as whether continuing necessity is required of prior use easements but rather
as whether the Wards’ use of the roadway is appropriate to assess under the prior use easement
doctrine.
We clarify that courts adjudicating implied easements for roadway access for previously
unified, landlocked parcels must assess such cases under the necessity easement doctrine.8
Admittedly, the express elements required for prior use easements do not restrict themselves to
certain easement purposes. Drye, 364 S.W.2d at 207–08. As a result, we have previously
encountered a party asserting a prior use easement for a roadway to access his previously unified,
landlocked parcel. See Bickler, 403 S.W.2d at 357.9 But we developed the two types of implied
easements for discrete circumstances. The less forgiving proof requirements for necessity easements
8
There exist other types of easements, such as prescriptive easements, easements by estoppel, and express
easements. Drye, 364 S.W .2d at 204. The W ards also pleaded a prescriptive easement claim, which will be within the
scope of our remand to the trial court.
9
Before Bickler, two parties in this Court sought to assess easements for improvements and roadway access
together under the prior use easement doctrine. See Ulbricht, 325 S.W .2d at 677 (granting prior use easement for grazing
cattle and ingress and egress to a lake); Mitchell, 246 S.W .2d at 164 (assessing a driveway and shed as prior use
easements).
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(strict and continuing necessity) simply serve as acknowledgment that roadways typically are more
significant intrusions on servient estates. By contrast, improvements at issue in prior use easements
(e.g., water lines, sewer lines, power lines) tend to involve more modest impositions on servient
estates. Accordingly, for such improvements, we have not mandated continued strict necessity but
instead carefully examine the circumstances existing at the time of the severance to assess whether
the parties intended for continued use of the improvement.10 Our clarification today in no way
should impact the continued ability of such improvements to qualify as prior use easements.
Applying this distinction to the Wards’ claimed easement does not entail prolonged analysis.
Their claimed easement concerns a roadway to access a previously unified, landlocked parcel. This
is precisely the factual scenario for which we created the necessity easement doctrine well over a
century ago, and here, the Wards must pursue a necessity easement rather than a prior use easement.
4. Remand
The Wards only pleaded theories of a prior use easement and easement by prescription in the
trial court. The trial court and court of appeals held that the Wards conclusively established a prior
use easement. Ordinarily, “parties are restricted in the appellate court to the theory on which the case
was tried in the lower court.” Safety Cas. Co. v. Wright, 160 S.W.2d 238, 245 (Tex. 1942).
Accordingly, we procedurally cannot hold that the Wards prevailed on a theory they have not
advanced in the trial court. However, we will not foreclose the Wards from bringing a necessity
easement claim in light of our clarification of the law. “We have broad discretion to remand for a
10
W e have, however, required strict necessity when a grantor reserves for himself a prior use easement.
Mitchell, 246 S.W .2d at 168.
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new trial in the interest of justice where it appears that a party may have proceeded under the wrong
legal theory.” Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S.W.2d 593, 603 (Tex. 1993). Moreover, “[r]emand is
particularly appropriate where the losing party may have presented his or her case in reliance on
controlling precedent that was subsequently overruled.” Id. As we have indicated, we have
encountered at least one situation in which a party pursued a prior use easement (rather than a
necessity easement) for roadway access to a previously unified, landlocked parcel. Bickler, 403
S.W.2d at 357. Although we refrain from opining as to whether the Wards will ultimately prevail
on a necessity easement claim, our clarification of the law entitles them to the opportunity to plead
and prove such a claim.
In addition to the issue of what type of easement the Wards must claim, the parties raise the
issues of the Hamricks’ bona fide purchaser defense and the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees.
Our remand for the Wards to pursue a necessity easement claim precludes us from reaching either
issue. We note that the court of appeals held the bona fide purchaser defense is an appropriate
defense to prior use easements. 359 S.W.3d at 782. It did not address whether the bona fide
purchaser defense applies to a claim the Wards had not yet raised. Accordingly, that issue remains
unresolved and is before the trial court on remand. Likewise, we need not assess the propriety of the
trial court’s award of attorney’s fees because that question will also be within the scope of the
remand to the trial court.
III. Conclusion
In sum, we have long recognized a distinction between necessity easements (which have
elevated proof requirements due to the more significant encumbrance typified by roadway
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easements) and prior use easements (which have relaxed proof requirements due to the typically
lesser encumbrance of other improvements such as utility lines). Today, we clarify that one claiming
an implied easement for roadway access to a landlocked, previously unified parcel must pursue a
necessity easement rather than a prior use easement. Because the Wards seek an implied easement
for roadway access to their landlocked, previously unified parcel, we remand for them to elect
whether to pursue a necessity easement claim. TEX . R. APP . P. 60.3. We reverse the portion of the
court of appeals’ judgment affirming summary judgment on the Wards’ prior use easement claim,
and remand to the trial court for dismissal of that claim and for further proceedings consistent with
this opinion.
____________________________________
Eva M. Guzman
Justice
OPINION DELIVERED: August 29, 2014
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