FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
RODNEY V. TAYLOR DAVID O. TITTLE
MICHAEL A. BEASON NANA QUAY-SMITH
Christopher and Taylor JAMES P. STRENSKI
Indianapolis, Indiana Bingham Summers Welsh & Spilman
Indianapolis, Indiana
COLUMBIA CLUB, INC., )
)
Appellant-Plaintiff, )
)
vs. ) No. 49A02-9901-CV-61
)
AMERICAN FLETCHER REALTY )
CORPORATION, an Indiana Corporation, )
Formerly known as Circle Realty Corporation; )
AF CENTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, an )
Ohio Limited Partnership; and MONUMENT )
TOWER ASSOCIATES LIMITED )
PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware Limited )
Partnership, )
)
Appellees-Defendants. )
ROBB, Judge
2. Whether a novation is required for the indemnification provision contained in the
Agreement to run with the land.
and Monument Tower moved for summary judgment, which was later granted by the trial
court. This appeal ensued.
a summary judgment order aids our review by providing us with a statement of reasons for
the trial court's decision, but it has no other effect. P.M.S., Inc. v. Jakubowski, 585 N.E.2d
1380, 1381 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992). Summary judgment should not be used as an abbreviated
trial. Brunner v. Trustees of Purdue Univ., 702 N.E.2d 759, 760 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998), trans.
denied.
successive grantees. Evansville, 87 N.E. at 21; Wells v. Benton, 108 Ind. 585, 8 N.E. 444,
447 (1886). Thus, the law of contracts and property may both be implicated in a breach of
contract action, especially when a contract concerns promises in instruments relating to real
estate, which are known as covenants.
Our first inquiry is to determine whether the indemnification provision contained in
the Agreement is a covenant or merely a contractual provision binding only those in privity
of contract. Generally, a covenant is an agreement duly made to do, or not to do, a particular
act. Vierk v. Ritenour, 131 Ind. App. 547, 172 N.E.2d 679, 683 (1961). In modern usage,
the term "covenant" generally describes promises relating to real property that are created in
conveyances or other instruments. Covenants may be express or implied as a matter of law.
Id. Moreover, covenants are a species of express contract. Id. We believe that the
indemnification provision contained in the Agreement is a covenant because it essentially is
a promise created in a contract, the Agreement, which granted cross easements between the
original parties.
The nature of the burden determines whether the covenant is negative, affirmative,
or restrictive. Negative covenants call for the covenantor to refrain from doing some act.
If the required performance limits the uses that can be made by the owner or occupier of
land, the covenant is usually called a restrictive covenant. We have held that restrictive
covenants are, in essence, a form of express contract between a grantor and a grantee in
which the latter agrees to refrain from using his property in a particular manner. Burnett v.
Heckelman, 456 N.E.2d 1094, 1097 (Ind. Ct. App. 1983). In contrast, affirmative covenants
call for the covenantor to do some act, such as paying money, supplying goods or services,
or performing some other act, either on or off the land owned by the covenantor. We have
defined affirmative covenants as a form of express contract between a grantor and a grantee
which imposes an affirmative burden on the latter. See generally Moseley v. Bishop, 470
N.E.2d 773, 777 (Ind. Ct. App. 1984) (defendant contracted to permanently maintain the
drain tile on land for the benefit of plaintiff's property). In the present case, the indemnity
provision contained in the Agreement may be characterized as an affirmative covenant
because under the terms of the original Agreement, American Fletcher and AF Center
expressly contracted to reimburse Columbia Club for any damages it incurred as a result of
the construction of the Bank One Tower and the accompanying parking garage. R. 21.
Land use covenants create rights and duties between the original promising parties.
The grantee's rights are called the "benefit" of the covenant, while the grantor's duties are
called the "burden." Covenants are either personal, enforceable only by the original parties
to an agreement, or they "run with the land." When covenants run with the land, they may
be enforced against remote grantees. Covenants which run with the land are typically
referred to as "real covenants." See generally ROGER A. CUNNINGHAM, THE LAW OF
PROPERTY 467 (1984); RICHARD R. POWELL, POWELL ON REAL PROPERTY § 60
(1999).
Analysis of a covenant to determine whether it runs with the land typically involves
two inquiries: (1) whether the covenant is one which, under any circumstances, may run with
the land; and (2) whether it was the intention of the parties as expressed in the agreement that
it should run with the land. Conduitt, 26 N.E. at 198. The Indiana Supreme Court has held
that "[a] covenant may contain apt words to make it a continuing covenant, yet if its nature
or the subject matter of it is such that it does not concern some interest or estate in land,
either existing or created by it, it cannot run with the land." Id. at 199. We have more
recently held that a real covenant imposing an affirmative burden will run with the land if:
(1) the covenantor and covenantee intend it to run; (2) the covenant touches and concerns the
land; and (3) there is privity of estate between subsequent grantees of the original covenantor
and covenantee. Moseley, 470 N.E.2d at 776. Therefore, we must apply the three factors
articulated in Moseley to determine whether the covenant runs with the land, and thus binds
subsequent grantees to the land.
fees and expenses of defense, arising out of or in connection with any . . .
damage . . . which shall or may arise out of or in connection with the
construction process, or as a result of the placement and/or existence of the
building . . . .
R. 21. Columbia Club argues that there is no indication in the plain text of section 7 that the
parties intended that the indemnity provision of the Agreement should run with the land.
The Partnership argues that the parties to the Agreement unambiguously intended for
the covenant to run with the land. The Partnership refers to section 8(a) of the Agreement
under the heading "EFFECT OF EASEMENTS." Section 8(A) provides that:
All of the provisions of this agreement, including the rights and benefits and
the restrictions and burdens, shall run with the land and shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon Columbia Club, American Fletcher and AF
Center and their respective successors, assigns, and/or mortgagees, as their
interests may appear.
R. 21. With regard to section 8 of the Agreement, Columbia Club argues that it has no effect
on the indemnity provision of the Agreement contained in section 7, because section 8, titled
"EFFECT OF EASEMENTS," only applies to the easements granted between the parties in
the Agreement, not the indemnity provision. After examining the entire Agreement, we
believe that the parties to the original Agreement intended for the indemnification provision
to run with the land, and thus, bind subsequent grantees to the land.
The covenanting parties' intent must be determined from the specific language used
and from the situation of the parties when the covenant was made. Thiebaud v. Union
Furniture Co., 143 Ind. 340, 42 N.E. 741, 742 (1896). Furthermore, specific words and
phrases cannot be read exclusive of other contractual provisions. Buck v. Banks, 668 N.E.2d
1259, 1261 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996). In addition, the parties' intentions must be determined from
the contract read in its entirety. Id. We attempt to construe contractual provisions so as to
harmonize the agreement. First Fed. Sav. Bank v. Key Markets, Inc., 559 N.E.2d 600, 603
(Ind. 1990). Moreover, no particular language is required to demonstrate an intent to run
with the land. Adult Group Properties, Ltd. v. Imler, 505 N.E.2d 459, 465-466 (Ind. Ct. App.
1987), trans. denied. Therefore, a real covenant may exist without the words "assigns" or
"grantees" but when these or equivalent words are used, they become persuasive of the intent
of the parties. Conduitt, 26 N.E. at 198.
Although not relied on by the Partnership, we believe that section 8(c) of the
Agreement supports the Partnership's contention that the indemnity provision contained in
the Agreement runs with the land, and thus, binds subsequent grantees to the land. Section
8(c) of the Agreement provides that:
If the owner of Tracts "A" or "B"See footnote
3
shall transfer its interest in such Tracts, then
the liability of the transferor for the breach of any covenant contained herein
occurring after the date of such transfer shall automatically terminate, and the
transferee shall, by the acceptance of the conveyance of such interest,
automatically accept, assume, and agree to perform or observe such covenant
after the date of such transfer.
R. 21. Read in conjunction with section 8(a), the Agreement clearly expresses the parties
intent that the indemnification provision contained in the Agreement is a covenant which
runs with the land, and thus binds subsequent grantees. Although both sections 8(a) and 8(c)
of the Agreement are under the heading "EFFECT OF EASEMENTS," we believe that the
content of the sections control over the heading. We have held that a contract is to be
construed from the verbiage of its contents and not the title. Board of Comm'rs of Madison
County v. Midwest Assocs., 144 Ind. 264, 268, 245 N.E.2d 853, 855 (Ind. Ct. App. 1969),
trans. denied.
Furthermore, the indemnification provision was extremely important to the Columbia
Club, because the subterranean easement it granted to the original parties to the Agreement
was utilized by them to build the structural foundation for the Bank One Tower and
accompanying parking garage. It was highly probable that the social club would incur
damages after the Bank One Tower and accompanying parking garage were completed and
ownership of the property was transferred to a third party. Given the importance of the
indemnification provision contained in the Agreement to Columbia Club, it is improbable
that the parties intended the Agreement to be purely personal and not binding on subsequent
grantees of the land. Thus, we hold as a matter of law that the facts surrounding the
Agreement and the language used in it show an intent to create a covenant running with the
land.
the Bank One Tower would not exist without the subterranean easement granted from
Columbia Club. Moreover, the Partnership asserts that the covenant was part and parcel of
the same document which granted the easement and concerned the project for which the
easement was granted.
Unless a real covenant's benefit "touches and concerns" some estate in land, the
benefit cannot run to the covenantee's grantee. Similarly, unless the burden "touches and
concerns" some estate in land, the burden cannot run. We have held that the "touch and
concern" requirement ensures that one purchasing land will be bound by his grantor's
contract only where the contract has some logical connection to his use and enjoyment of the
land. Moseley, 470 N.E.2d at 777. Therefore, a successor to the covenantor's interest in
property may be bound by the covenant if it is logically connected to that property interest.
Id. Conversely, a successor to the covenantee's property interest may enforce the covenant
if it is logically connected to his property. Id. The "touch and concern" requirement is the
only essential requirement for the running of covenants which focuses on an objective
analysis of the contents of the covenant itself, rather than the intentions and relationships
between the parties.
The clearest example of a covenant that "touches and concerns" the land is one which
calls for a party to do, or refrain from doing, a physical act on the land. We have held that
a covenant to maintain a tile drain was logically connected to the land because the drain was
buried on the land. Id. Moreover, the Indiana Supreme Court held that a covenant to pay for
any additions made to a party wall ran with the land because the covenant was created in the
instrument that created the right to use the wall. Conduitt, 26 N.E. at 199. The Indiana
Supreme Court in Conduitt reasoned that:
When an instrument conveys or grants an interest or right in land, and at the
same time contains a covenant in which a right attached to the estate or interest
granted is reserved . . . such covenant is one which may become annexed to
and run with the land, and bind its owners successively. When such a grant is
made, and contains a covenant so expressed as to show that it was reasonably
the intent that it should be continuing, it will be construed as a covenant
running with the land.
Id.
The Restatement of Property addresses the liability of a successor in interest for real
covenants by providing that:
The successors in title to land respecting the use of which the owner has made
a promise can be bound as promisors only if: a) the performance of the
promise will benefit the promisee or other beneficiary of the promise in the
physical use or enjoyment of the land possessed by him; or b) the
consummation of the transaction of which the promise is a part will operate to
benefit and is for the benefit of the promisor in the physical use or enjoyment
of the land possessed by him, and the burden of the land of the promisor bears
a reasonable relation to the benefit received by the person benefited.
Restatement of Property § 537(a)-(b) (1944).
We believe that the covenant to indemnify the Columbia Club for damages arising
from construction of the Bank One Tower and accompanying parking garage is logically
connected to both the Columbia Club's property upon which the social club is built and the
property upon which the Bank One Tower and accompanying parking garage is built. Thus,
we hold as a matter of law that the "touch and concern" requirement is satisfied for the
covenant to run with the land.
that the covenant was made in the context of a transfer of an interest in the affected land,
whether by lease or by deed conveying the property or an easement therein. Id.
The Partnership contends that Columbia Club is in privity of estate with the
Partnership as well as the Partnership's successors. Specifically, the Partnership argues it is
in horizontal privity with Columbia Club because it had an easement in land owned by
Columbia Club under the Agreement and the covenant concerns the easement, and thus, it
and Columbia Club held a simultaneous interest in the land at one time. With regard to
vertical privity, the Partnership argues that even though the successive grantees of the
Partnership were not parties to the Agreement, the obligations of a contract are imposed upon
persons who stand in privity of estate with the original covenantor as successive grantees.
We believe the privity of estate requirement has been satisfied in order for the
covenant to run with the land. The Columbia Club granted a subterranean easement to the
original parties to the Agreement in order for them to build the structural foundation for the
Bank One Tower and accompanying parking garage. In exchange for the grant of this
easement, the original parties to the Agreement promised to reimburse the Columbia Club
for damages arising from the construction of the building and parking garage. Therefore, the
original covenanting parties held successive interest in the land burdened by the covenant.
Moreover, the successors-in-interest to the property upon which the Bank One Tower and
parking garage are located are in vertical privity with the original covenantors of the
Agreement. Because the covenant to reimburse and the grant of the subterranean easement
was contained in the same document, the Agreement, the covenant was clearly made in the
context of a transfer to the original owners of the Bank One Tower property of an easement
in the Columbia Club's land. We hold as a matter of law that the indemnification provision
contained in the Agreement is a covenant which runs with the land, and thus, binds the
subsequent grantees to the land. Because the Partnership transferred all of their interest in
the Bank One Tower property to an unrelated third party, they are no longer liable to
Columbia Club for damages arising from the construction process. Thus, we conclude that
the trial court properly granted the Partnership's motion for summary judgment.
presented to the trial court that it did not agree to a transfer of indemnification. Columbia
Club admits that it may have not used the specific term "novation" in the trial court, but
nonetheless the Partnership had sufficient notice of the issue.
Our Trial Rules provide that no judgment rendered on a motion for summary
judgment shall be reversed on the ground that there is a genuine issue of material fact unless
the material fact and the evidence relevant thereto shall have been specifically designated to
the trial court. Ind. Trial Rule 56(H); Hayden v. Linton-Stockton Classroom Teachers Ass'n,
686 N.E.2d 143, 146 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997). However, Trial Rule 15(B) provides in pertinent
part that "[w]hen issues not raised by the pleadings are tried by express or implied consent
of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings."
The Indiana Supreme Court explained that the policy behind Trial Rule 15(B) is "to promote
relief for a party based upon the evidence actually forthcoming at trial, notwithstanding the
initial direction set by the pleadings." Ayr-Way Stores, Inc. v. Chitwood, 261 Ind. 86, 300
N.E.2d 335, 338 (1973).
We have held that fairness requires that the opposing party have "some notice that an
issue is before the court which has not been pleaded or has not been agreed to in a pre-trial
order." Aldon Builders, Inc. v. Kurland, 152 Ind. App. 570, 284 N.E.2d 826, 832 (1972).
This is particularly true when the new issue is not unequivocally clear from the evidence
presented at trial. Id. Notice must be overt, as where the unpleaded issue is expressly raised
prior to or sometime during the trial but before the close of the evidence. Kmart Corp. v.
Brzezinski, 540 N.E.2d 1276, 1281 (Ind. Ct. App. 1989), trans. denied. Notice may be
implied where the evidence presented at trial is such that a reasonably competent attorney
would have recognized the unpleaded issue as being litigated. Id. Both parties must litigate
the new issue, and implied consent to the trial of that issue will not be found unless the
parties know or should have known that the unpleaded issue was being presented. Elkhart
County Farm Bureau Co-op v. Hochstetler, 418 N.E.2d 280, 283 (Ind. Ct. App. 1981). In
addition, implied consent to trial of an unpleaded defense may not be deduced merely
because evidence relevant to a properly pleaded defense inferentially suggests a defense not
within the pleadings. Id. at 284. Furthermore, the opposing party may not insert a new issue
into a trial under the cloak of evidence relevant to an already pleaded issue. Hacker v.
Review Bd., 149 Ind. App. 223, 271 N.E.2d 191, 195 (1971).
A novation is a new contract made with the intent to extinguish one already in
existence. Rose Acre Farms, Inc. v. Cone, 492 N.E.2d 61, 68 (Ind. Ct. App. 1986), trans.
denied. Where a novation is found, it acts to extinguish any claims which existed under the
original contract. Id. at 69. Where a subsequent agreement lacks any language, either
express or implied, which indicates an intention to create a novation, relieve contractual
liabilities, substitute parties, or extinguish the old contract, we will not conclude that a party
to the first contract has waived its right to sue for breach in the first contract. White Truck
Sales of Indianapolis, Inc. v. Shelby Nat'l Bank, 420 N.E.2d 1266, 1271 (Ind. Ct. App. 1981).
A novation
requires: (1) a valid existing contract; (2) the agreement of all parties to a new
contract; (3) a valid new contract; and (4) an extinguishment of the old contract in favor of
the new one. Winkler v. V.G. Reed & Sons, Inc., 638 N.E.2d 1228, 1233 (Ind. 1994).
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