Mayor and City Council of Ocean City v. Taber

In 1878, Stephen Taber conveyed a lot in what became Ocean City, Maryland to the United States government, with the deed specifying the land was for a 'Life Saving Station' only and would automatically revert to Taber and his heirs once that use ended, without any legal proceedings required. In 1967, the U.S. quitclaimed the lot to Ocean City (defendant), with the deed itself noting the land was no longer used for a Life Saving Station. In 1971, Taber's heirs (plaintiffs) sued Ocean City, claiming the property had automatically reverted to them once the Life Saving Station use ended, while Ocean City argued the original 1878 deed was invalid and the U.S. had instead acquired the land through nearly a century of adverse possession, later validly transferring it via the quitclaim deed. The trial court ruled for the heirs.