May 29, 2020
An easement is an interest in the land of another that entitles the easement owner to a limited use or enjoyment of the other’s land. [Camp v. Meeker Water System, Inc. v. Public Utilities Com. (1990) 51 Cal.3d 845, 865; Mosier v. Mead (1955) 45 Cal.2d 629, 632.]
An equitable easement is an implied easement created by equity. Equitable easements are decided under the doctrine of relative hardships. [Hirshfield v. Schwartz (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 749.] This is an equitable doctrine that is used to adjudicate the rights of the parties, particularly in encroachment actions. This doctrine allows a court to balance whether the granting of an equitable easement would cause more hardship on the title owner of the property, than the hardship that would be caused by denying the encroacher use of the equitable easement.
To prevail on a claim for equitable easement, the encroacher must prove the following, by clear and convincing evidence:
- That the encroacher has built an encroachment on the title holder’s property. (An encroachment is an unconsented intrusion by a building, other structure, or paved road onto adjacent property.)
- That the encroacher is innocent – the encroachment must not have been the result of a willful act.
- That the hardship of denying the encroacher an equitable easement would be much greater than the hardship to the title holder if the encroacher is granted an equitable easement.
- That the encroacher would be irreparably harmed if not granted an equitable easement.
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This article is based on the law as of the date posted at the top of the article. This article does not constitute the provision of legal advice, and does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship with Eskridge Law.