Tioga Coal Co. v. Supermarkets General Corp.

Tioga Coal Company (plaintiff) locked a gate to a strip of land, Agate Street, located on neighboring Supermarkets General Corporation's (SGC, defendant) property, maintaining that lock from 1948 to 1978; the trial court found Tioga's use of the land was actual, open, notorious, exclusive, and continuous for well over the required 21-year period, but ruled its possession wasn't hostile to SGC because Tioga believed the land belonged to the city rather than intending to claim it against any particular owner. Tioga appealed.