Effect of Ambiguity in Easement Explained

In finding there were triable issues of fact, the Second Department explained the effect of ambiguity in the wording of easements:

The extent of an easement claimed under a grant is generally determined by the language used in the grant … . However, where the language of the grant is ambiguous or unclear, the court will consider surrounding circumstances tending to show the grantor’s intent in creating the easement … . Here, the language of the grant creating an easement in favor of the Clemensens’ property for “ingress and egress over the continuation of [the] private roadway as now or hereinafter located to the Hudson River” is ambiguous.  Menucha of Nyack, LLC v Fisher, 2013 NY Slip Op 07015, 2nd Dept 10-30-13