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Bennett v. Tracy
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT				Reporter of Decisions
Decision:1999 ME 165
Docket:Han-99-99
Submitted
on Briefs:October 28, 1999
Decided:	November 19, 1999


Panel:WATHEN, C.J., and CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, SAUFLEY, ALEXANDER, and
CALKINS, JJ.

KATHERINE BENNETT, et al.

v.

JOSEPH TRACY, et al.

WATHEN, C.J.

 	[¶1]  Joseph Tracy appeals from a judgment entered on Katherine
Bennett's motion for partial summary judgment in Superior Court (Hancock
County, Mead, J.) permanently enjoining Tracy from using his property for
any commercial purpose.  On appeal, Tracy contends that the court erred
when it denied his own motion for partial summary judgment and granted
Bennett's because the restrictive covenant in his deed that formed the basis
of the injunction does not prohibit commercial uses.  Alternatively, he
argues that a genuine issue of material fact remains as to whether Bennett
was estopped from enforcing the covenant.  Finding no error, we affirm the
judgment.
	[¶2]  The relevant facts may be summarized as follows:  In 1996,
Jeffrey Wooster conveyed Lot 11 in the subdivision "Denning Brook Estates"
located in Mount Desert to Tracy.  Wooster was the developer of the
subdivision and was, either directly or through a third party, the common
grantor of both Tracy and the plaintiffs.  Tracy's deed contained several
restrictive covenants, though the present dispute centers primarily around
the first:  "The premises shall be used only for the purpose of erecting one
single family residence of at least 1400 square feet of living area and
outbuildings appropriate to the residence. . . .  All buildings shall be built
utilizing colonial architectural design and shall be approved by Grantors."
	[¶3]  Prior to the sale of the property, Tracy took Wooster to his then
current woodworking shop and indicated that he would like to duplicate
that shop on Lot 11.{1}  Wooster grave Tracy verbal permission to build a
duplicate shop on Lot 11, and Tracy agreed to purchase the property.  On
the day of the closing, Wooster signed an addendum to the purchase and
sale agreement that indicated that: "A residence and wood working studio
similar to [Tracy's then current residence] or a design utilizing a pitched
roof and wood or stucco siding are acceptable to me and meet the
requirements of the protective covenants."  The addendum also indicated
that, in the absence of a Homeowners' Association, "Jeffrey Wooster is the
administer [sic] of the protective covenants."{2}  
	[¶4]  In 1998, Katherine Bennett and several other of Tracy's
neighbors (collectively Bennett) instituted the present action against Tracy
and Wooster.  These neighbors own lots in the subdivision, and received
their property by a deed containing the same restrictions found in Tracy's
deed.  
	[¶5]  Bennett believed that these restrictions prevented Tracy from
operating his woodworking shop as a commercial enterprise; she sought a
permanent injunction against Tracy.{3}  Both Tracy and Bennett filed cross
motions for partial summary judgment.  Following a hearing, the court
issued an order on denying Tracy's motion and granting Bennett's motion. 
The court ordered a permanent injunction against Tracy, preventing him
from operating any sort of commercial enterprise from Lot 11.  Tracy filed a
motion for clarification of the order, arguing that there remained issues for
trial.  The court construed the motion as either a motion to alter or amend
the judgment or a motion for relief from judgment and denied it.
	[¶6]  After an initial appeal was dismissed for lack of a final judgment,
the court issued an amended judgment and decree in which it reaffirmed its
earlier order and permanently enjoined Tracy "from using the premises
described as Lot 11 . . . as a woodworking shop or for any other commercial
purpose."  The court also found, pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 54(b) that there was
"no just reason for delay in the entry of a final judgment on Count 1
because" the permanent injunction against Tracy made the remaining
claims against Wooster moot.  The court accordingly directed entry of a final
judgment.  Tracy now appeals from that judgment. 
	[¶7]  The entry of a summary judgment is reviewed "for errors of law,
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom
the judgment was entered."  Peterson v. State Tax Assessor, 1999 ME 23, ¶
6, 724 A.2d 610, 612.  The proper construction of a deed is a question of
law, which we review de novo.  See Sylvan Properties Co. v. State Planning
Office, 1998 ME 106, ¶ 8, 711 A.2d 138, 139. 
	[¶8]  The first step in any analysis of the language in a deed is to "give
words their general and ordinary meaning to see if they create any
ambiguity.  If the words create no doubt, the deed is clear and
unambiguous."  Rhoda v. Fitzpatrick, 655 A.2d 357, 360 (Me. 1995)
(internal citations omitted).  It is only if the language is ambiguous that
extrinsic circumstances may be examined in an attempt to ascertain the
parties' intentions.  See Sylvan Properties Co., 1998 ME 106, ¶ 8, 711 A.2d
at 140.  On the other hand, if "the language of a deed is unambiguous, it will
guide interpretation of the parties' intent."  Jones v. Carrier, 473 A.2d 867,
869 (Me. 1984). 
	[¶9]  Tracy's principal argument on appeal is that the restriction
limiting the use of the property "only for the purpose of erecting one single
family residence" is ambiguous.  Looking to the contract as a whole, Tracy
argues, ineluctably leads to the conclusion that this restriction only governs
the structural basis of construction on the property rather than the later use
of that property.  Thus interpreted, the covenant would not limit
commercial use.  
	[¶10]  To accept Tracy's argument would mean that a factory could be
located on Lot 11 so long as the building was 1400 square feet and in a
colonial architectural style.  Indeed, Tracy's reading of this requirement
removes all meaning from the phrase "single family residence."  If the
parties had intended a structural restriction, the phrase "single family
residence" would have no purpose other than to frustrate that intent.  See,
e.g., Leavitt v. Davis, 153 Me. 279, 281-82, 136 A.2d 535, 537 (1957)
(noting that if the parties had intended to prevent any use of the servient
property that blocked the view from the dominant, they could have used the
phrase "any use" rather than "building or structure"; a parking lot did not
violate the covenant because a car was neither a building nor a structure). 
The covenant unambiguously prevents commercial use of the primary
structure.  See, e.g., Boehner v. Briggs, 528 A.2d 451, 452 (Me. 1987)
(holding that language restricting land to a "one family dwelling" prevented
multi-family houses but did not proscribe the architectural method of
creating the dwelling).  
	[¶11]  Tracy next argues that the phrase "outbuildings appropriate to
the residence" is ambiguous and that reference must be made to the zoning
ordinances of Mount Desert to resolve this ambiguity.  Giving those words
their ordinary meaning, the phrase describes separate buildings, such as a
garage, that are commonly found with residential homes and that are
commonly associated with the residential use of property.  There is no
ambiguity within the phrase that would allow it to encompass a commercial
woodworking shop.  Moreover, even if there were any ambiguity in the deed,
zoning ordinances cannot aid in its interpretation.{4}  It is settled law in
Maine that zoning and covenants are separate realms of land use control and
that neither directly influences the interpretation of the other.  See, e.g.,
Our Way Enterprises, Inc. v. Town of Wells, 535 A.2d 442, 444 (Me. 1988);
Lakes Environmental Association v. Town of Naples, 486 A.2d 91, 96 n.1
(Me. 1984); Whiting v. Seavey, 159 Me. 61, 68, 188 A.2d 276, 280 (1963)
("Contractual restrictions in a deed are not abrogated or enlarged by zoning
restrictions."). 
	[¶12]  Because there is no ambiguity in the deed, the court did not err
when it denied Tracy's motion for summary judgment.  Tracy argues that,
even so, there remains a genuine issue of material fact that should have
prevented the grant of Bennett's motion.  According to Tracy, there remains
a factual issue of whether, when Wooster approved construction of the
woodworking shop on Lot 11, he acted as agent for Bennett.  The factual
issue is material, Tracy argues, because if Wooster was Bennett's agent,
Bennett is now estopped from denying the validity of that approval.
	[¶13]  A party opposing a motion for summary judgment must file a
statement of material facts, "supported by appropriate record references, as
to which it is contended that there exists a genuine issue to be tried."  M.R.
Civ. P. 7(d)(2) (emphasis added).  "All material facts set forth in the
statement required to be served by the moving party, if supported by
appropriate record references, will be deemed to be admitted unless
properly controverted by the statement required to be served by the
opposing party."  Id. (emphasis added).  
	[¶14]  Tracy submitted a statement of material facts with his motion
for partial summary judgment, but this statement did not contain any record
references.  Tracy did not file an additional statement in opposition to
Bennett's motion, but instead adopted the statement filed in support of his
own motion.  We do not need to decide whether it was appropriate for Tracy
to neglect to file a separate statement in opposition to Bennett's motion. 
Even if he could rely on his statement offered in support of his own motion,
the failure to provide record references means that "the contents of
[Tracy's] statement are unsupported speculation that does not generate a
genuine issue of material fact."  Biette v. Scott Dugas Trucking and
Excavating, Inc., 676 A.2d 490, 494 (Me. 1996).  Bennett's Statement of
Material Facts Not in Dispute contains the following fact:  "The restrictive
covenants contained in each of the conveyances of lots in Denning Brook(s)
do not grant Wooster, either implicitly or explicitly the power or authority
to unilaterally change or modify the restrictive covenants."  Because of
Tracy's failure to properly contest that statement, there is no factual issue
remaining for trial regarding Wooster's authority to act for the plaintiffs. 
	The entry is:
		Judgment affirmed.
                                              
Attorney for plaintiffs:
Anthony J. Giunta, Esq.

P O Box 735
Ellsworth, ME 04605

Attorneys for defendants:

Sandra Hylander Collier, Esq.
P O Box 1391
Ellsworth, ME 04605
	and
William C. Reiff, Esq.
P O Box 20
Mt. Desert, ME 04660
(for Joseph Tracy)

George W. Kurr Jr., Esq.
P O Box 922
Bangor, ME 04402-0922
(for Jeffrey Wooster)