Weinstein v. Tariff

The plaintiffs, who are the owners of a parcel of real estate adjacent to the defendants’ property, brought this bill in equity to enforce a restriction. The restriction, which was contained in the deed to each lot, was that “there ... be left a free space [not less than 10 feet3 adjoining each of the side lines thereof extending the full depth of the lot and unoccupied by any building or part thereof.” On the findings of the master, it is clear that the restriction was imposed pursuant to a general scheme and inured "to benefit the plaintiffs’ lot. The alleged violation of the restriction consisted in the erection of two sets of steps and landings. One set of steps was “7.99 or 8 feet” from the property line between the plaintiffs’ and the defendants’ lots; the other set of steps was 7.73 feet from the property line. After detailed findings of the subsidiary facts, the master concluded that, in so far as it was a question of fact, the steps and landings projecting into the free space were not a “building or part thereof” within the meaning of the restriction. He also concluded that the plaintiffs were guilty of loches, a de-fence that was pleaded. A final decree was entered dismissing the bill. The plaintiffs appealed. There was no error. We lay to one side the master’s finding that the erection of the steps and landings did not constitute a violation of the restriction, as we prefer to rest our decision on his finding of loches. A good discussion of the general principles of loches in a case of this kind is contained in Stewart v. Finkelstone, 206 Mass. 28, 36-37. As the court there observed, “what may be loches in any case depends upon its peculiar facts.” See also discussion in Loud v. Pendergast, 206 Mass. 122, 124. Applying the principles outlined in these cases, we are of opinion that the master’s finding of loches was amply supported by his subsidiary findings. They reveal that the plaintiffs stood by in silence for an unreasonable period of time while the [739] steps were being erected by the defendants’ predecessor in title, and that had they exercised diligence the wrong complained of would in all probability have been prevented. The defendants, according to the master, acted in good faith, and the plaintiffs’ delay in asserting their rights “ contributed to or caused disadvantage and harm to the defendants.” The case was submitted on briefs. Douglas R. Winniman for the plaintiffs. Edward B. Cooley & Max C. Abrams for the defendants. Interlocutory decree affirmed,. Final decree affirmed with costs of appeal.