Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Land within subdivisions is often subject to various restrictions. It is important to know and follow these restrictions to avoid potential legal action. The following case in Desoto parish discusses some of the legal implications of neighborhood subdivision restrictions in Louisiana.
The plaintiffs, Roy L. Flippo and Robert C. Treadway were landowners in Ranchland Acres Subdivision in DeSoto Parish, the same subdivision as Natosha L. Mann. They claimed that Mann lived in a mobile home that violated the subdivision restrictions. Despite being given written notice to remove her mobile home in order to comply with the restrictions, Mann failed to comply with the restrictions. Therefore, the plaintiffs argued they were entitled to a mandatory injunction ordering Mann to remove the mobile home within 30 days in order to comply with the restrictions.
Mann responded, arguing that R.H. Lending, who had a mortgage and security interest in the property, should have been joined as a party so that it could protect its interest. Plaintiffs responded that R.H. Lending’s interest was personal between it and Mann and therefore should not be a party in the action. R.H. Lending subsequently assigned the mortgage to First Guaranty, so Mann filed a motion to make First Guaranty a party so that it could protect its financial and security interest in the Property.
The trial court held that First Guaranty had sufficient notice, so its absence as a party would not impair its ability to protect its interest. The court determined that Mann was in violation of the restrictions and ordered her to remove the trailer within 30 days. Mann appealed, raising four different errors.
First, Mann argued that the trial court erred in not joining the mortgagee as a party in the lawsuit. The court found that the removal of the trailer would not impair the mortgage. Therefore, under La. C.C.P. art. 641, First Guaranty did not need to be joined as a party. The appellate court, therefore, rejected this argument.
Second, Mann argued that the trial court erred in declining to find that Plaintiffs operated with unclean hands because they did not take action when they first observed violations of the restrictions. However, because plaintiffs followed the time periods outlined in La C.C. art. 781 for filing an action for an injunction on account of a violation of a building restriction, the court rejected this error.
Third, Mann argued that the trial court erred in finding that the property violated the restrictions. She tried to distinguish mobile homes from trailers. She also claimed the Plaintiffs’ ludicrously constructed the restrictions such that she could have a mobile home on her lot so long as she did not live in it. However, based on the language of the restrictions, the court rejected these arguments.
Lastly, Man argued the trial court erred in requiring her to remove the mobile home from the property because the restrictions permit a mobile home so long as no one resides in it. Therefore, she argued that if she did not live in the mobile home, she would not be in violation of the restrictions. However, the court rejected this argument because it did not apply to the Dwelling Size Restriction that required all main structures to be constructed in the subdivision instead of moved onto the lot.
When facing legal action for potential violations of land restrictions, it is important to understand your possible remedies and the relevant parties to the action.
Additional Sources: Roy L. Flippo & Robert C. Treadway vs. Natosha L. Mann
Written By Berniard Law Firm Blog Writer: Jennifer Bartos
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