Each discuss in IRAC format

Discuss:

If it had gone to court, would Enrique be required to pay rent for the remainder of the lease term?

Was the court correct to award the house to Natasha?

Even if she has no enforceable claim to the house, should a court award damages to Bobbie? How much?

May Natasha block the boardwalk and exclude the public from her property?

Randolph owned a beachfront house in fee simple absolute. The property includes a separate guest cottage, and a ten-foot wide boardwalk along the beach (referred to in the deed as a permanent public easement). Randolph then agreed to rent out the guest cottage to Enrique for $1,000 a month for a period of two years; the terms were discussed and agreed upon, but never written down. When Enrique moved into the cottage, he discovered there was no running water. Enrique then moved out and refused to pay any more rent to Randolph.

Randolph began dating, and eventually married, Olga. After their marriage, Randolph updated his will, leaving his house, "to Olga for the remainder of her life, and then to my daughter Natasha."

The beach house fell into disrepair and needed work, and Randolph interviewed several contractors for the job. Bobbie, a contractor who grew up in the area, told Randolph how much she loved the house and how she had always dreamed of living there. Randolph told Bobbie that if she restored the house for free, Randolph would leave the house to her when he died. Bobbie 3 agreed, and the two signed a written contract. Bobbie repaired the house (cost of repair was $50,000), but Randolph never changed his will.

Randolph died five years later, and Olga, Natasha, and Bobbie claimed the house belonged to them. A court awarded the house to Natasha. As soon as she moved in, Natasha built two large barriers to prevent the public from walking on the boardwalk - Natasha claimed that as a landowner she had the right to exclude the public from her property.