Coppinger v. Rawlins
Annotate this CaseThe prior owners subdivided their land into two parcels, dedicating narrow lots “A,” “B,” and “C,” to defendant County of Riverside (County) for public road and utility purposes. The County accepted the dedication in 1980, with the proviso that Lots B and C would not immediately become part of the county-maintained road system. In 1984, plaintiffs Joseph and Connie Coppinger purchased one parcel. Defendants Rogelio and Maria Rawlins purchased the other parcel, and used Lot C to access their land. Plaintiffs erected a gate to prevent the Rawlinses from using Lot C, and eventually filed a lawsuit against the Rawlins and the County for quiet title, trespass, injunctive relief, and declaratory relief. The Rawlinses and the County demurred, and the trial court sustained the demurrer without leave to amend. Plaintiffs appealed, arguing that: (1) the dedication of the public right of way constituted a "taking" from the prior owners ; and (2) the County’s acceptance of the dedicated lots did not constitute an unconditional acceptance within the meaning of the Subdivision Map Act, constituting rejection of the dedication, and reverting title to Lot “C” to plaintiffs. Finding no reversible error, the Court of Appeal affirmed.
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