Andrew and Margaret Wilson erected a fence in what they thought was the yard of their Durham, North Carolina home in 1957. In doing so, they inadvertently enclosed a small triangular piece, no bigger than fifteen feet at its widest, of the adjoining landowner's property. In 1980, Carl Pearce and his wife Wanda bought the property adjacent to that of the Wilsons, and claimed the triangular shaped property belonged to them. A dispute arose as to who owned the property under state law, and a lawsuit ensued. What court(s) would have jurisdiction over the lawsuit?

Question

Andrew and Margaret Wilson erected a fence in what they thought was the yard of their Durham, North Carolina home in 1957. In doing so, they inadvertently enclosed a small triangular piece, no bigger than fifteen feet at its widest, of the adjoining landowner's property. In 1980, Carl Pearce and his wife Wanda bought the property adjacent to that of the Wilsons, and claimed the triangular shaped property belonged to them. A dispute arose as to who owned the property under state law, and a lawsuit ensued. What court(s) would have jurisdiction over the lawsuit?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lawsuit involves a dispute over real property located in North Carolina. State courts have jurisdiction over disputes involving real property located within their borders.

Andrew and Margaret Wilson Erected a Fence in What They