Worcester v. Worcester

The appeal was taken by Norma E. Worcester from a decree in an action for partition instituted by Benjamin F. Worcester. The parties were divorced in 1962 by a decree which awarded each of them a divorce from the other. Shortly thereafter Benjamin filed this action.

The parties owned four parcels of land in the northwest quarter of section 2, township 1 south, range 17 west, San Bernardino meridian, a mountainous area in Los Angeles County, commonly known as Topanga Canyon. One parcel was two acres located east of Old Topanga Canyon Road, one was four acres west of the road, in the southeast quarter, the third was the northwest quarter also known as lot 4, and the fourth was the southwest quarter, all in the northwest quarter of the section. The four parcels were owned in joint tenancy and were the subject of the partition action. According to the briefs Norma owned a small piece lying westerly of lot 4 but separated from lot 4 by about one acre which belonged to one Whitsen.

May 8, 1963, the parties were in court. Norma was represented by Attorney Green. A stipulation was entered into for allotment of several parcels to the respective parties. Although this stipulation was not…