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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Eric. Have wa courts adopted the sections you cite? Thanks for your contributions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 30, 2024 3:11 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Trimming Tree Branches Growing into Easement Area<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">WSBA Real Property Deskbook Vols. 1&2, Ch. 7.6:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">An owner of an easement by prescription has the privilege to make effective the enjoyment of the easement through acts that are not part of the use interest obtained through prescription. RESTATEMENT
(THIRD) OF PROPERTY §410 (2000). The easement owner is privileged to repair and improve the right-of-way even though he or she did not take such action during the prescriptive period and, therefore, under a strict definition of such an easement, did not acquire
the right to repair and improve. Id.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">The privilege to make effective the enjoyment is subject to the limitation that the burden on the servient easement cannot be "unreasonably increased." Martin v. Norris Pub. Power Dist., 175
Neb. 815, 124 N.W.2d 221 (1963). An "unreasonable increase" is defined in the RESTATEMENT as an increase in use for which one could reasonably assume the owner of the servient estate would have interrupted the adverse use had it occurred during the prescriptive
period. RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF PROPERTY §4.10 cmt. d (2000).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">There are two determinations made regarding such privileged use: first, whether the repair or improvement is necessary for effective enjoyment and second, whether such action unreasonably burdens
the servient estate. Mumrow v. Riddle, 67 Mich.App. 693, 242 N.W.2d 489 (1976). Because "improvements" in an easement are generally not contemplated by the parties (unlike repairs to keep an easement in the shape in which it was obtained), actions by the easement
owner that constitute improvements are scrutinized more closely by the courts to ensure that the acts meet this two-pronged test. Id.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Responsibility for the maintenance and repair of an easement to keep it in proper condition lies with the owner of the easement. 28A C.J.S. Easements §226; 25 AM. JUR. 2D Easements §82; see also
Dreger v. Sullivan, 46 Wn.2d 36, 278 P.2d 647 (1955). Maintenance and repair of the easement is allowed to correct new conditions interfering with the use and enjoyment of the easement and thus render it useful under the new conditions. Hughes v. Boyer, 5
Wn.2d 81, 104 P.2d 760 (1940).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">The owner of the servient estate is generally under no obligation to make repairs on an easement. However, the owner of the servient estate may be required to pay for alterations or repairs to
the easement that are made necessary by the use to which he or she is putting the premises. 28A C.J.S. Easements §220; 25 AM. JUR. 2D Easements §82. There may also be instances in which the servient owner has the right to maintain, improve, or repair an easement
at the expense of the dominant owner, such as when the grant so provides or when the dominant and servient owners both will derive a benefit from the improvement. D.E. Evins, Annotation, Right of Servient Owner to Maintain, Improve, or Repair Easement of Way
at Expense of Dominant Owner, 20 A.L.R. 3D 1026 (1968). For a discussion of the issues involved in ownership of improvements annexed to land by one who is not the owner, see 5 AMERICAN LAW OF PROPERTY §19 (A. James Casner ed., 1952).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Sayre Law Offices, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:eric@sayrelawoffices.com"><span style="color:#467886">eric@sayrelawoffices.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b><a href="mailto:Jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">Jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 30, 2024 2:53 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'WSBA Real Property Listserv' <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Trimming Tree Branches Growing into Easement Area<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4 lots share a 30’ ingress/egress easement with the current driveway approximately 12 – 15 feet wide down the middle of easement area. One lot owners have allowed their tree branches to grow into the easement area which are now affecting
access by clients truck, delivery vehicles; and will certainly cause problems for emergency vehicles. The same lot owners have built a fence into the easement area, but that’s for another time. I know you can trim branches that cross over your property
line. However, does the same rule apply to easement area? The three other owners want the limbs trimmed back to the fence. However, the lot owners, with the trees, are very volatile, and hostile. They have guns. What is the basic rule about this?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">W. Jeff Davis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">BELL & DAVIS PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Attorneys at Law</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
P.O. Box 510<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">720 E. Washington Street, Suite 105<br>
Sequim WA 98382<br>
Phone: (360) 683.1129 <br>
Fax: (360) 683.1258 <br>
email: </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:jeff@bellanddavispllc.com">jeff@bellanddavispllc.com</a><span style="color:black"><br>
</span></span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:blue">www.bellanddavispllc.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
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The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this
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or call 360.683.1129.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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