FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS: ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
STEPHEN R. SNYDER LARRY L. BARNARD
RANDALL L. MORGAN Carson Boxberger LLP
Snyder, Birch, Cornwell & Morgan, LLP Fort Wayne, Indiana
Syracuse, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
ONE DUPONT CENTRE, LLC )
and RONALD COHEN, )
)
Appellants-Plaintiffs, )
)
vs. ) No. 02A05-0312-CV-624
)
DUPONT AUBURN, LLC, )
)
Appellee-Defendant. )
APPEAL FROM THE ALLEN SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Stanley A. Levine, Judge
Cause No. 02D01-0007-CP-1057
December 21, 2004
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
VAIDIK, Judge
Case Summary
Dr. Ronald Cohen appeals the trial courts denial of his complaint for a
permanent injunction arising from a dispute with a neighboring landowner. Cohen purchased
land adjacent to a pond to construct a professional building overlooking that pond.
The seller explained that the adjacent land would be a common area
perpetually. Several years later, the adjacent land was sold, and while the
pond was retained, an office building was constructed on the land. Because
we find no irrevocable license and that no restrictive covenants barred the development
of the land, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
Cohen and One Dupont, LLC, (Cohen) own real estate on the outside ring
of a circular drive at a Fort Wayne medical park (Park) upon which
they constructed a building that houses, among other things, Cohens orthodontics practice.
Cohen obtained the land in July 1995 from the St. Joseph Medical Center
of Fort Wayne, Inc. (Hospital) in exchange for an off-site parcel of land
that Cohen had previously purchased for the purpose of constructing a building for
his orthodontics practice. Before obtaining the land, Cohen negotiated primarily with Bernard
Niezer, the Hospitals Vice President of Planning and Business Development and its Chief
Operating Officer. Niezer had the responsibility of directing the Parks development and,
once development was complete, operating the Park. Cohen, his architect, and Niezer
met and discussed the site plan for the Parkincluding the location of the
available lots and the common areas.
A primary consideration in Cohens ultimate decision to obtain the land was the
fact that it was contiguous to one of the Parks common areas, a
parcel of land also in the outside ring containing a retention pond (Pond
Parcel). In fact, the trial court specifically found that Cohen would not
have purchased his land if commercial development of the Pond Parcel had been
represented to be allowed. The pond largely influenced the buildings design.
The operatory area of Cohens practice overlooks it. The walls in that
area contain tall, wide windows with all six of Cohens procedure-chairs facing the
windows. Moreover, from a market value standpoint Cohen paid a higher price
for his lot in part because of its proximity to the Pond Parcel.
Another consideration in Cohens choosing of his land was the visibility of
the building and its sign from Dupont Road, although the buildings sign ultimately
was not placed where it could be seen from Dupont Road.
Before obtaining the land, Cohen had received information from at least three sources
that the Pond Parcel was a common area that was not for sale
and would not be developed. First, during negotiations Cohen asked Niezer about
purchasing the Pond Parcel. Niezer said that the Pond Parcel was not
for sale because it was a common area and would remain so perpetually.
Second, the site plan showed that there was to be no development
on the Pond Parcel. Third, the Parks development consultants, Sturges, Griffin, Trent
& Co.
See footnote
, informed Cohen that the Pond Parcel was not for sale and
it would not be developed. However, the Exchange Agreementthrough which Cohen exchanged
his off-site land for the real estate in the Parkdid not restrict the
right of the Hospital to develop the Pond Parcel.
In June 1995, the Hospital prepared and submitted a Primary Development Plan (1995
Plan) to the Allen County Plan Commission (Commission) for the commercial development of
the Park real estate. This 1995 Plan sought approval for commercial development
and designated common areas of the Park. The 1995 Plan showed that
the Pond Parcel was specifically labeled Common Area A; however, this Plan was
never recorded. On March 7, 1996, the Hospital executed and filed the
Declarations of Easements and Restrictive Covenants. On March 12, 1996, the Restrictive
Covenants (1996 Covenants) were recorded in the Allen County Recorders Office. Two
days later, Cohen received a deed from the Hospital that conveyed his land;
this deed was recorded March 16, 1996. Thus, Cohen took title to
the land subject to the 1996 Covenants, which had been recorded.
In July 1998, the Hospital gifted the real estate on the outside ring
to the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (Foundation). As part of this
conveyance, the Hospital and Cohen executed Amended Easements and Restrictive Covenants (1998 Covenants).
They were intended to allow for development of the land on the
inside of the circular drive; they incorporated by reference the 1995 Plan that
defined the land on the outside ring. Before signing, Cohen asked Niezer
if the real estate on the outside ring would be modified with the
conveyance. Niezer informed Cohen that he was not aware of any changes.
The 1998 Covenants were filed and recorded in the Allen County Recorders
Office.
The 1996 Covenants provided in pertinent part:
Common Area shall mean and refer to the rights-of-way, roadway easements, retention pond
and its allied easements
as dedicated by separate instrument currently, by amendment to
this agreement, or as dedicated by separate instrument in the future, as well
as culverts, median strips, including landscaping, and identification signs located in [the] Park.
Appellants App. p. 13 (emphasis in original). The 1998 Covenants were substantially
similar to the 1996 Covenants, but the 1998 Covenants also provided: Such
dedication shall be effective upon the recording of the instruments referred to hereinabove
or upon conveyance of the Association.
Id. at 16. The 1996
Covenants also provided, in pertinent part:
To the extent constructed and dedicated in the future or currently existing at
the time of the execution of this restrictive covenant, all owners shall have
the right to use the Common Area in . . . [the Park]
. . . . The Developer reserves the right to convey the Common
Area to the Association for the benefit of all owners; however, the Developer,
or his successor in interest, shall be required to convey the Common Area
to the Association no later than the time that the improvements upon all
of the Real Estate within [the Park] have been completed.
Id. at 13 (emphasis added). The 1998 Covenants also provided for conveyance
of the Common Areas to the Association and similarly provided that the dedication
of the common area within the Park would be effective upon any common
area being dedicated in a separate instrument or when that land was conveyed
to the Association after the execution and recording of the 1998 Covenants.
The 1998 Covenants did incorporate by reference the 1995 Plan in the 1998
Covenants definition of Out Parcel Real Estate as follows:
Out Parcel Real Estate shall mean those certain lots or parcels of land
. . . contained within the Real Estate and located around the exterior
of the Ring Road
as shown on the Development Plan for the [Park],
which Out Parcel Real Estate is depicted on the [1995] Site Plan for
the [Park] attached hereto . . . and incorporated herein by this reference.
Id. at 16-17 (emphasis in original).
Significantly for this case, the 1995 Plan, which did show the Pond Parcel
as a common area, was never dedicated by a separate instrument as a
common area even though the 1995 Plan (showing the Pond Parcel as a
common area) was incorporated by reference in the 1998 Covenants under its definition
of Out Parcel Real Estate. Moreover, at no time did any other
separate instrument so dedicate the Pond Parcel. Additionally, the Pond Parcel was
never conveyed as a common area to the Association.
In April or May of 1998, Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co. told a
third party that the Pond Parcel was not available for development. In
July or August of that year, Samuel Schenkel of Sturges, Griffin, Trent &
Co. assumed the responsibility of overseeing the construction of the final phase of
the Parks development and assisting in the brokerage of the lots on the
outer ring owned by the Foundation. In late 1998, Mike Carr called
on behalf of the Foundation and asked whether the Pond Parcel could be
sold; apparently, the Foundation wanted to dispose of all properties on the outer
ring in order to use the proceeds for its missions. Schenkels response
was that the Pond Parcel was a good piece of land to be
potentially sold.
In the fall of 1998, Cohen learned that the Pond Parcel was potentially
to be developed. At a meeting in late fall/early winter of 1998,
Cohen viewed a plan that said that the Pond Parcel was available for
sale or development. Cohen objected to the development of the Pond Parcel
via letter, a copy of which was received by Schenkel. Sturges, Griffin,
Trent & Co. placed a brokerage sign on the Pond Parcel and put
the Pond Parcel in its marketing materials for the Park. Subsequently, Schenkel,
Cohen and the counsel for the Foundation met to discuss the Pond Parcel;
at the meeting Cohen explained that the property should not be developed.
Schenkel and the Foundations counsel disagreed and explained that the Foundation had the
right to develop the property.
One year after Schenkel began his attempts to sell the Pond Parcel, he
received an inquiry from Lowell Griffina former principal of Sturges, Griffin, Trent &
Co., not involved in developing the Parkabout purchasing the Pond Parcel. Griffin
was inquiring on behalf of the stockbrokerage firm of Raymond James & Assocs.,
Inc. (Raymond James). Griffin learned in late December 1999 or early January
2000 that Cohen was concerned about the sale of the Pond Parcel.
For tax purposes Dupont Auburnwhose controlling members Sturges (a current principal of Sturges,
Griffin, Trent & Co.) and Griffin
decided that it would be beneficial to do
a Section 1031 exchange
See footnote
on the Pond Parcel and a shopping center that
they had just sold and then lease the property to Raymond James.
In January 2000, Dupont Auburn entered into a purchase agreement with the Foundation
for the Pond Parcel; the purchase price was $669,000. The purchase agreement
contained contingencies for Dupont Auburn to obtain approvals from the Commission and, based
on the fact that Griffin was aware of Cohens concerns, for Cohen not
taking legal action to stop the project. In February 2000, Dupont Auburn
entered into an office lease with Raymond James for a building to be
constructed on the Pond Parcel. The lease contained a contingency with respect
to obtaining the approval of the Commission.
After the execution of the purchase agreement, Dupont Auburn sought to amend the
1995 Plan to permit construction on the Pond Parcel. However, the January
1999 amended site development plan (1999 Plan) was prepared and showed proposed development
in the center ring but not in the outer ring and Pond Parcel.
In other words, as to the outer ring and Pond Parcel, the
1999 Plan was identical to the 1995 Plan. Moreover, in both the
1995 and 1999 Plansunlike the lots that were available for developmentthe Pond Parcel
did not contain a lot number, access points, or utilities. The Pond
Parcel was labeled as a common area in both plans.
As the trial court observed, [T]he original intent of Dupont Auburns predecessor in
interest and developer (the Hospital), was not to develop the [Pond Parcel].
Moreover, Dupont Auburn was aware of this at the time of its purchase
of the Common Area Real Estate.
Id. at 21. The
Foundation, Dupont Auburn, and Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co. were aware of Cohens
objections and proceeded with plans to develop the Pond Parcel. Schenkel, on
behalf of Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co., and Griffin, on behalf of Dupont
Auburn, filed a petition to modify the 1995 Plan with the Commission.
In April 2000, at Dupont Auburns request, a public hearing was held to
amend the 1995 Plan. Cohen appeared at the hearing and remonstrated in
opposition to Dupont Auburn and the Foundations proposal that the Pond Parcel be
commercially developed. Specifically, Cohen explained that when he obtained his real estate
it was represented to him that the Pond Parcel was a common area.
Griffin and Schenkel appeared on behalf of Dupont Auburn, and Schenkel also
appeared on behalf of Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co., who was representing the
Foundation. On May 31, 2000, Dupont Auburn closed its purchase of the
Pond Parcel, and the deed conveying title to Dupont Auburn was recorded on
June 1, 2000. Thus, Dupont Auburn closed the purchase and recorded the
deed
after the public hearing but before the Commission had issued its decision.
This was so because the deadline for the Section 1031 Exchange was
May 31, 2000, and furthermore, Dupont Auburn was confident that its plan presented
to the Commission would be approved. Dupont Auburn took title to the
Pond Parcel, subject to the 1998 Covenants and the 1995 Plan.
On June 22, 2000, the Commission approved Dupont Auburns amended plan. Cohen
did not file an action for a Writ of Certiorari after the Commissions
approval of Dupont Auburns amended plan. In July 2000, Dupont Auburn contracted
with Shawnee Construction for the construction of the first of three buildings on
the Pond Parcel and groundbreaking was held that same month. Two days
before the groundbreaking, Cohen initiated this action seeking permanent injunctive relief before Dupont
Auburn constructed a building on the Pond Parcel. Before Cohen filed his
complaint, some minor preliminary work had begun on the Pond Parcel. As
of January 13, 2001, Dupont Auburn had spent over 1.5 million dollars on
the construction of the Raymond James building and the remainder of the Pond
Parcel. Dupont Auburn did so, though, with full knowledge that the courts
could require it to remove the buildings on the Pond Parcel and restore
the land.
It was not until June 12, 2002, that the Foundation conveyed to St.
Joseph Health System, LLC (St. Joseph) the pond that is located on the
Pond Parcel. Before this date, neither the pond nor the Pond Parcel
were dedicated as Common Area pursuant to a separate instrument or conveyed to
the Association, as would be required under both the 1996 Covenants and 1998
Covenants. In short, the pond on the Pond Parcel did not become
a Common Area until 2002.
Cohen still has a view of the pond from his operatory area.
Cohens primary complaint about the Raymond Jones building is that the patients in
his operatory areas chairs can see traffic on Dupont Auburns driveway leading into
the Raymond Jones parking lot. However, before the Raymond Jones building was
constructed, Cohens patients could see traffic on the Parks circle drive. Cohen
admits that there is more traffic on the circle drive than on Dupont
Auburns driveway.
Cohen filed a complaint for a permanent injunction. He produced evidence in
an attempt to show the damage that the development of the Pond Parcel
had on his business. Cohens accountant testified but did not produce any
evidence as to the reduction, if any, between Cohens income before the Raymond
James building was constructed and after the building was constructed because the accountant
had not been asked to make such calculations. In fact, the accountant
testified that it is possible that Cohen has suffered no loss of income
due to the Raymond Jones building. One of the architects involved in
the construction of Cohens building testified that he could not say if the
construction of the Raymond Jones building negatively impacted the design intent of Cohens
building.
Id. at 27. The trial court found that the reduction
in new patients for Cohens practice, if any, could be attributed to a
variety of factors, including the economy or competition from other orthodontists in the
area. Cohen could not say whether he lost patients or failed to
acquire patients due to the construction of the Raymond Jones building.
The court found that there was no measurable loss in value of Cohens
property caused by the Raymond Jones building and that there would be no
loss of value if more buildings were added to the Pond Parcel.
The court also found that Cohens building sustained no impact as to its
function by the construction on the Pond Parcel. Finally, the court declined
to make a comparison between aesthetic values in residential subdivisions and commercial real
estate, specifically commercial medical real estate. Cohens complaint for a permanent injunction
against Dupont Auburn was denied. This appeal followed.
Discussion and Decision
Cohen makes three arguments on appeal. First, he argues that the Pond
Parcel was a common area not subject to development on the basis of
an irrevocable license. Second, he argues that the development of the Pond
Parcel was prohibited by private recorded restrictive covenants. Finally, he argues that
there are no adequate remedies at law for his injuries from the commercial
development of the Pond Parcel. Because we do not find either an
irrevocable license or restrictive covenants, we do reach the issue of damages.
We address the first two arguments in turn.
Because the trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law in
this case, our standard of review is two-tiered.
Oil Supply Co., Inc.
v. Hires Parts Serv., Inc., 726 N.E.2d 246, 248 (Ind. 2000). First,
we determine whether the evidence supports the findings and second, whether the findings
support the judgment. Id. We will disturb the judgment only where
there is no evidence supporting the findings or the findings fail to support
the judgment. Id. We consider only the evidence favorable to the
trial courts judgment. Id. Challengers must show that the trial courts
findings are clearly erroneous. Id.
I. Irrevocable License
In the context of real estate, a license
See footnote
merely confers a personal privilege
to do some act or acts on land without conveying an estate in
the land. Contel of Ind., Inc. v. Coulson, 659 N.E.2d 224, 228
(Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied. A license is revocable and unassignable.
Selvia v. Reitmeyer, 156 Ind. App. 203, 207, 295 N.E.2d 869, 872
(1973). An irrevocable license, which Cohen claims exists here, is different than
a license. This court has explained that an irrevocable license in legal
effect is no different than an easement, Indus. Disposal Corp. of Am. v.
City of E. Chicago, 407 N.E.2d 1203, 1206 (Ind. Ct. App. 1980), and
that in at least two cases our courts have used the terms irrevocable
license and easement interchangeably. Id.; see also Closson Lumber Co., Inc. v.
Wiseman, 507 N.E.2d 974, 976 (Ind. 1987) (In many instances the legal distinction
between a license and an easement becomes blurred.).
Irrevocable licenses have been the subject of very few cases in this state.
As this court has explained:
[W]hen a privilege having the characteristics of a license (or deficient in some
manner to qualify as an easement) has been executed by the licensee through
the expenditure of money or labor in reliance upon the license being perpetual,
or when a license has been given for a valuable consideration paid, it
cannot be revoked by the licensor unless he remunerates the licensee or restores
him to status quo.
Indus. Disposal Corp. of Am., 407 N.E.2d at 1205 (citations omitted). Our
supreme court has explained that [e]vents occurring subsequent to the granting of a
license may, in effect, change a license otherwise revocable at law into an
easement enforced in equity. Closson Lumber Co., 507 N.E.2d at 976.
Thus, it would appear that for Cohen to prevail on the theory that
he was granted an irrevocable license he must demonstrate that he was granted
a privilege having the characteristics of a license and either that he expended
money or labor in reliance upon the licenses being perpetual or that the
license was given for valuable consideration. We find that Cohen was granted
no privilege, thus we do not reach the issue of money or labor
in reliance or consideration.
We are unable to discern what, if any, privilege the Hospital, the Foundation,
or Dupont Auburn bestowed upon Cohen that allowed him to do any act
on the Pond Parcel. Cohen seems to suggest that the license consisted
of Cohens unobstructed viewing of an undeveloped Pond Parcel from his land.
Cohen makes no representation that he ever did any act on the Pond
Parcel. Cohen has pointed to no irrevocable license cases, and our research
has uncovered none, in which the license consisted of permission to view the
licensors land from the licensees land, much less permission to view the licensors
perpetually undeveloped land. In fact, the cases we have uncovered finding an
irrevocable license entail the licensees having physical contact with the licensors land in
some capacity.
See, e.g., Closson Lumber Co., 507 N.E.2d at 976 (permission
to use licensors property to access licensees warehouse and to pour a blacktop
driveway on licensors property for that purpose); Mund v. English, 684 P.2d 1248,
1250 (Or. Ct. App. 1984) (permission to use a well on licensors property
and to install a pipeline from the well to licensees property). Thus,
because we find no license in the first instance, we do not reach
the question whether Cohen expended money or labor in reliance of the perpetual
nature of the license or whether the license was given for valuable consideration.
Similarly, because we find that there was no irrevocable license, we do
not need to determine the effect, if any, of notice that Dupont Auburn
may or may not have had.
Even if an irrevocable license did exist in this case, irrevocable licenses are
enforced at equity.
See Closson Lumber Co., 507 N.E.2d at 976.
A trial court has full discretion to fashion equitable remedies which are complete
and fair to all parties involved. Lake County Auditor v. Bank Calumet,
785 N.E.2d 279, 281 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Because Cohen can still
view the pond from his operatory area, because the Raymond James building is
complete, and because Cohen produced no evidence of any harm to his business
due to the development of the Pond Parcel, we do not find that
the trial court abused its equitable discretion in this case.
Moreover, if an irrevocable license did exist in this case, it would be
subject to the statute of frauds.
See footnote
See Ind. Code § 32-21-1-1 to
-16. As we mentioned above, the legal effect of an irrevocable license
is no different than the legal effect of an easement. See Indus.
Disposal Corp. of Am., 407 N.E.2d at 1206. This court has explained
that easements are interests in land and . . . contracts to grant
or reserve easements are subject to the statute [of frauds] requirements. Chase
v. Nelson, 507 N.E.2d 640, 643 (Ind. Ct. App. 1987). The statute
of frauds requires that any contract which seeks to convey an interest in
land is required to be in writing. Brown v. Branch, 758 N.E.2d
48, 51 (Ind. 2001). Cohen makes no assertion that he had a
written contract with either the Hospital, the Foundation, or Dupont Auburn as to
the irrevocable license that the Pond Parcel would remain undeveloped. He points
to oral representations made by Niezer and Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co. that
the Pond Parcel was a common area that would never be developed.
To the extent that Cohen identifies a writing at all, he does not
identify a contract; rather, he refers to the various site plans that label
the Pond Parcel as a common area. In short, even were we
to find that an irrevocable license was created in this case, the statute
of frauds cannot be satisfied because there was no writing.
II. Restrictive Covenant
Cohen next argues
See footnote
that the development of the Pond Parcel was prohibited under
1996 and 1998 private recorded restrictive covenants; he also points to the 1995
and 1999 site plans in which the Pond Parcel is labeled Common Area
A as further support for his argument. Cohen argues that because the
1998 Covenants incorporated the 1995 Plan by reference, and because the 1995 Plan
showed the Pond Parcel as a common area, a restrictive covenant existed.
As a general proposition, restrictive covenants are disfavored in the law, strictly construed
by the courts, and all doubts should be resolved in favor of the
free use of property and against restrictions. Renfro v. McGuyer, 799 N.E.2d
544, 547 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied. Because covenants are a
form of express contract, we apply the same rules of construction. Id.
Restrictive covenants will be enforced so long as the restrictions are unambiguous
and do not violate public policy. Id.
The 1996 Covenants are clear that common areas mean and refer to the
rights-of-way, roadway easements, retention pond and its allied easements dedicated by separate instrument
currently, by amendment to this agreement, or as dedicated by separate instrument in
the future. Appellants App. p. 13 (emphasis added). Additionally, the 1996
Covenants provided: The Developer reserves the right to convey the Common Area to
the Association . . . however, the Developer . . . shall be
required to convey the Common Area to the Association no later than the
time that the improvements upon all of the Real Estate within [the Park]
have been completed. Id. (emphasis added). The 1998 Covenants are equally
clear that dedication shall be effective upon the recording of the instruments referred
to hereinabove or upon conveyance to the Association. Id. at 16.
The trial court found that the 1995 Plan, which did show the Pond
Parcel as a common area, was never dedicated by a separate instrument as
a common area, even though the 1995 Plan was incorporated by reference in
the 1998 Covenants definition of Out Parcel Real Estate. No other separate
instrument dedicated the Pond Parcel as a common area, and the Pond Parcel
was never conveyed as a common area to the Association. On appeal,
Cohen makes no argument that a separate instrument did, in fact, dedicate the
Pond Parcel as a common area, nor does he argue that the Pond
Parcel was conveyed as a common area to the Association. Finally, Cohen
points to no evidence that the 1995 Plan was ever recorded.
The restrictive covenants are unambiguous in their definition of common areas. Cohen
has produced no evidence that the language of the restrictive covenants was satisfied.
Accordingly, we cannot say that the trial court erred in its finding
that no restrictive covenant barred the development of the Pond Parcel.
Affirmed.
RILEY, J., and CRONE, J., concur.
Footnote:
The principals of Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co. at that time were
Barry Sturges, Lowell Griffin, and Gary Trent. Sturges and Griffin are the
controlling members of Dupont Auburn, LLC, the appellee in this case, but Griffin
sold his interest in Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co. to Sturges and Trent
in 1996. Sturges remains a principal.
Footnote:
A Section 1031 Exchange is also known as a Like-Kind Exchange that
represents a way to postpone the recognition (taxation) of gain essentially by shifting
the basis of old property to new property. If, in addition to giving
up like-kind property, you pay money in a like-kind exchange, you still have
no recognized gain or loss. The basis of the property received is the
basis of the property given up, increased by the money paid. There are
several rules and restrictions that must be strictly adhered to in order for
a successful exchange to take place. Deferred exchanges will be treated as a
sale rather than an exchange to the extent that the taxpayer actually or
constructively receives money or other (not like kind) property in exchange for the
like-kind property given up.
See http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw2.html (last visited Dec. 3, 2004).
Footnote:
Licenses and easements are often mistaken for one another. This court
has explained the difference by noting that an easement is a liberty, privilege,
or advantage in land without profit existing distinct from the ownership of the
land, and generally constitutes an interest in the land itself, Indus. Disposal Corp.
of Am. v. City of E. Chicago, 407 N.E.2d 1203, 1205 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1980) (emphasis added), whereas a license merely confers a privilege to do
some act or acts on the land without possessing any estate therein .
. . [and] may be revoked at will . . . .
Id.
Footnote:
Cohen makes no argument that any exception to the Statute of Fraudssuch
as part performance or promissory estoppelapplies in this case. See Vadas v.
Vadas, 762 N.E.2d 1234, 1243 n.7 (Ind. 2002) (Boehm, J., dissenting).
Footnote:
Cohen makes a brief argument, citing primarily to an encyclopedia article, that
Dupont Auburn is equitably estopped from denying a dedication because the 1995 and
1999 site plans labeled the Pond Parcel as a common area and because
the Hospitals representative, Niezer, and Sturges, Griffin, Trent & Co. told Cohen that
the Pond Parcel was a common area and would remain so perpetually.
Cohen has failed to make a cogent argument, and as such we decline
to address this argument. See Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(a).