Springmeyer

Plaintiff Marjorie Anne Johnson Springmeyer appeals from a judgment of dismissal of her quiet title action involving property deeded to the City of South Lake Tahoe (city). She contends she is the owner in fee simple of a one-third interest in the property by virtue of an automatic reversion provision in the deed. We read the deed to avoid a reversion. We affirm the judgment.

Facts

The complaint alleges that in June of 1967 Springmeyer (by a trustee) and two siblings granted 5.819 acres of land in El Dorado County to the city. The habendum clause in the deed declares that the land is to be used for “government office purposes.” Two conditions of reversion are declared. First, if the city fails to build and occupy one or more office buildings for city office purposes, by specified date, the property is automatically to revert to the grantors. Second, if subsequent to compliance with that condition, the real property ceases to be used for “government office purposes,” an automatic reversion is to occur.

In September of 1972 and July of 1979 the city allowed buildings and other structures to be built upon the property for use by the County of El Dorado. On July 23, 1979,…