It all started in 2013 when Saline Lakeshore purchased Horse Island, which is land near the Saline Lake and Saline Bayou in Avoyelles Parish. At the time of the purchase, four individuals, Marlon Littleton, Buddy Cannon, Frank Morace, and Eric Morace, lived on the island in “camps.” These camps were housing structures which the four used to float to Horse Island. These houseboats were built in a way to float whenever Horse Island flooded, which was a frequent occurrence. When the island was not flooded, the four occupants would take care of the dry land by clearing and maintaining the camp yard. Additionally, the four occupants built docks, sheds, pavilions, roast pig cookers, fish skinning rocks, and water wells on the property. All of these improvements occurred prior to Saline Lakeshore purchasing Horse Island.
After buying the property, Saline Lakeshore sent Littleton, Cannon, and the Moraces a letter requesting that they remove themselves and their property from the island. Littleton and Cannon filed a possessory action against Saline Lakeshore, as did the Moraces. A possessory action is an action to stop the disturbance of property one possesses. To establish a possessory action, one must prove: 1) person had possession of the property, 2) the possession was uninterrupted for more than a year prior to disturbance, 3) the disturbance was a recognizable disturbance under Louisiana law, and 4) the action was instituted with a year of the disturbance. La. C.C.P art. 3658 (2016). The two separate actions were consolidated into one action for efficiency. Littleton, Cannon, and the Moraces then filed for summary judgment. The trial court granted the motion for summary judgment finding that the four occupants satisfied the requirements under Louisiana law. Summary judgment is when a trial court decides a case before it goes to trial. To obtain a summary judgment, both sides must agree on the material facts of the lawsuit. The trial court then makes the determination of the law, granting judgment to one side.
Saline Lakeshore, disagreeing with the trial courts determination, appealed the decision arguing that the four occupants failed to prove that they possessed the property. On appeal, the Third Circuit Court of Appeal examined whether the four occupants had possession under the law. The appellate court looked at the meaning of “possession” and its implications. It noted that the possessor must prove that he intended to possess the property and that the possessor took corporeal possession of the property. La. C.C. art. 3424 (2016). The Third Circuit defined “corporeal possession” as the “use, detention, or enjoyment over a thing.” La. C.C. art. 3425 (2016).
The Third Circuit decided that the four occupants had possession over the property as required by Louisiana law. It noted that Littleton, Cannon, and the Moraces all made substantial improvements on the property and that the four men also improved the property several years before Saline Lakeshore bought the property. The appellate court relied on nine affidavits and six depositions. One of the depositions was from a land surveyor, who testified that the land improvements and living structures showed evidence that the four men had been making improvements on the property for years. The Third Circuit also emphasized the continuous and definite use of the property. Weighing all the evidence, the Third Circuit determined that the four occupants did possess the camp site on Horse Island and affirmed the trial court’s determination.
The Horse Island dispute illustrates the complexities and hazards of property ownership. If you are considering filing a lawsuit concerning a property dispute, make sure that you hire an excellent lawyer who is well-aware of all the detailed facts regarding the property and law applicable to your property dispute.
Additional Sources: MARLON LITTLETON, ET AL. VERSUS SALINE LAKESHORE, LLC consolidated with ERIC MORACE, ET AL. VERSUS SALINE LAKESHORE, LLC
Written by Berniard Law Firm Blog Writer: Smriti Kishnan
Additional Berniard Law Firm Articles on Louisiana Property Disputes: St. Bernard Parish Government Demolishes Man’s Rental Property Without Notice