Rustic Ridge, LLC v. Washington Homes, Inc

In Rustic Ridge, LLC v. Washington Homes, Inc., 149 Md. App. 89, 814 A.2d 116 (2002), Washington Homes brought suit against Rustic Ridge, alleging that Washington Homes was "the proper and rightful owner" of certain land and sought damages against Rustic Ridge for slander of title. Washington Homes moved for partial summary judgment on the declaratory judgment count and the court granted the motion, finding that Washington Homes was the "proper and rightful owner." Rustic Ridge appealed, arguing that the partial summary judgment was an appealable interlocutory order that fell within 12-303(1). The Court held that the trial court's ruling did not involve income, interest or dividends from the property, nor did it purport to address possession. Id. at 96. Furthermore, there was no dispute that Rustic Ridge did not have a right to possess the property because it claimed only a contractual interest in the property. The Court concluded that the claimed interest might or might not eventually lead to a transfer of title and corresponding right of possession.