Canova Land & Investment Co. v. Lynn

PRESENT: All the Justices CANOVA LAND AND INVESTMENT COMPANY OPINION BY v. Record No. 200476 JUSTICE WILLIAM C. MIMS APRIL 15, 2021 CAROLYN G. LYNN, ET AL. FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY Angela L. Horan, Judge In this case, the Court decides whether a deed restriction for the use of a particular church was an unreasonable restraint on alienation. I. BACKGROUND AND MATERIAL PROCEEDINGS BELOW In 1875, Edna and Levi Lynn executed a deed granting one acre of land to the Woodbine Baptist Church (“Woodbine”) “in exchange for five dollars.” The deed states in relevant part: the said…