From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Foley v. McGonigle

Appeals Court of Massachusetts
Apr 30, 1975
326 N.E.2d 723 (Mass. App. Ct. 1975)

Summary

stating the "fact that the plaintiff initiated this proceeding for declaratory relief does not shift th[e] burden to him"

Summary of this case from Adelson v. Hananel

Opinion

April 30, 1975.

Robert V. Cauchon, for the plaintiff, submitted a brief.


The defendant, as the party asserting an easement over the lane in question, had the burden of proving the nature and extent of any such easement. Swensen v. Marino, 306 Mass. 582, 583 (1940). Fortier v. H.P. Hood Sons, Inc. 307 Mass. 292, 299 (1940). Goldstein v. Beal, 317 Mass. 750, 757 (1945). The fact that the plaintiff initiated this proceeding for declaratory relief does not shift that burden to him. Stop Shop, Inc. v. Ganem, 347 Mass. 697, 703-704 (1964). That other persons, not before the court, may also have rights of passage over or own portions of the lane does not prevent the adjudication as between the plaintiff and the defendant of the latter's rights (if any) in such portion of the lane as may be owned by the plaintiff. The judgment is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with the foregoing.

So ordered.


Summaries of

Foley v. McGonigle

Appeals Court of Massachusetts
Apr 30, 1975
326 N.E.2d 723 (Mass. App. Ct. 1975)

stating the "fact that the plaintiff initiated this proceeding for declaratory relief does not shift th[e] burden to him"

Summary of this case from Adelson v. Hananel
Case details for

Foley v. McGonigle

Case Details

Full title:JOHN X. FOLEY vs. WALTER B. MCGONIGLE, trustee

Court:Appeals Court of Massachusetts

Date published: Apr 30, 1975

Citations

326 N.E.2d 723 (Mass. App. Ct. 1975)
3 Mass. App. Ct. 746

Citing Cases

Witteveld v. City of Haverhill

Here again, the burden of proof fell on the defendants as the parties trying to assert the easement. Foley v.…

Taylor v. Lassell

The burden of proving their claimed easement rested upon the Taylors as the parties asserting it. See Mount…