property donahue f2007-outline
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PROPERTY OUTLINEDonahue, Fall 2007
Topic I: Establishin Entitle!ents
A. Possession = Ownership?.................................................................................................................................1a. Pierson v. Post....................................................................................................................................1 b. Pierson Penumbra..............................................................................................................................5c. Jus Tertii.............................................................................................................................................7
B. Possession vs. Ownership...............................................................................................................................10a. Adverse Possession..........................................................................................................................10
C. Possession or Ownership: Wha !s ! Worh?.................................................................................................17a. Geragosian and Peters.....................................................................................................................17 b. Geragosian....................................................................................................................................... 1"c. Edwards............................................................................................................................................#0
$. A %er& Brie' !nroducion o Proper& (ou Can) *ouch................................................................................#5a. !ne++ecua+ Proper&.........................................................................................................................#5
Topic II: T"ans#e" o# O$ne"ship o# P"ope"t%
A. Conve&ancin,.................................................................................................................................................#-a. *he aue o' /rauds.......................................................................................................................#- b. Hayes................................................................................................................................................0c. /orma+iies in $eeds........................................................................................................................1d. $e+iver& and ecordin,...................................................................................................................#
B. Wha (ou Can *rans'er..................................................................................................................................5a. 2saes and /uure !neress..............................................................................................................5 b. Presen !neress.......................................................................................................................... .....3c. /uure !neress.................................................................................................................................-d. Perpeuiies.......................................................................................................................................45e. esrains on A+ienaion...................................................................................................................5#'. Concurren !neress.........................................................................................................................5,. aria+ Proper&...............................................................................................................................5-h. 6and+ord and *enan 6aw................................................................................................................31
i. !mp+ied Warran& o' abiabi+i&.......................................................................................3ii. en Conro+......................................................................................................................33
Topic III: P"i&ate an' Public (ont"ol o# Lan' Use
A. Privae Conro+s on 6and 8se........................................................................................................................3-a. !nroducion: 9uisances and ome 2conomics...............................................................................3- b. 9on;Possessor& !neress in 6and................................................................................................ ....71c. 2asemens.........................................................................................................................................7d. Covenans........................................................................................................................................."0
i. *he unnin, o' he Bene'i o' he Covenan....................................................................."5ii. 8ses o' a Common P+an...................................................................................................."7
iii.
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C. 2conomic *heor&.........................................................................................................................................113$. *he i,h o 2c+ude....................................................................................................................................113
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TOPI( I: E+T-LI+.IN/
ENTITLEENT+
1 PO++E++ION O*NER+.IP3
PO++E++ION )+1 O*NER+.IP 4/IL-ERT5+ 67
Pierson v. Post Pierson v. Post , +up1 (t1 NY, 6809 4P1 2 4/ilbe"t5s , ;;
Facts an' hol'in
• e+evan@
o Background : Pierson >i++ed and carried awa& he 'o ha Pos was acive+&
pursuin, wih hounds on unpossessed and uninhabied +and. Pierson saw Pos and>new he 'o was bein, huned.
o Bu mos+& abou beween he $uch and 2n,+ish on 6on, !s+and in 1"05.
• !rre+evan@ ro+e o' he +aw&er
P"ocess
• Capiassummons
o Summons: Pos received summons 'rom Dusice o' peace and ,ave i o sherri''
who noi'ied Piersono Capias: A+ernaive in which sherri'' wou+d have arresed Pierson
• Appearance be'ore he Dusice
o Pos ,oes o Dusice o' Eueens Co. who ru+ed 'or Pos
o Bu wh& ,o here 'irs? possibi+iies inc+ude:
Pos >new he ,u&
Fusice o' peace usua++& ru+es 'or G
eHuired ,iven nomina+ Durisdiciona+ amoun@
• $ec+araion respass vs. case
o Declaration: Pos)s 'irs +aw&er who wroe he dec+araion deemed he acion a
respass on he case@ bc he 'o was no in Pos)s possession a ime o' shooin, $onahue: since possession no necessar& 'or respass on a case Pos)s
dec+araion shou+d have 'ocused on Pierson)s ma+icious iner'erence wih
he hun@o Trespass: An acion 'or ineniona+ ne,+i,en or non;ne,+i,en acs ha resu+ in
direc 'orcib+e inDur& o someone)s person or possess proper& /ist is in
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!nDur& was o proper& owned b& G no in G)s possession or o ineress o'
G ha cou+d no be ca++ed proper&@
• Fur&
o Cases wihou Duries ver& uncommon bac> hen
o %erdic 'or Pos
• Certiorario Pierson 'i+es 'or ceriorari where hi,her cour reains discreion over a>in, he
case
• Assi,nmen o' error 3 1
o Pierson)s +aw&er a++e,es 3 errors in +ower cour decision on+& he hird survives
wheher he dec+araion saes a cause o' acion I'or which re+ie' can be
,ranedJo A++owin, on+& he hird narrowed he Huesion o wheher Pos had su''icien
proper& ri,hs in he 'o o susain his acion a,ains Pierson Cenra+ Huesion: Wheher Pos)s conduc ,ave Pos a ri,h in Ior proper&
overJ he 'o such as wi++ susain an acion 'or respass on he case a,ainssomeone who a>es or >i++s he 'o
.ol'in
• Holding : Pos +ac>ed proper& in 'o o susain he respass
o ere pursui is no enou,hK@ he pursuer mus inercep and >i++ Ii.e. mora++&
woundJ he anima+ render escape impossib+e here)s a desire 'or c+ear ru+es
here
• u+e: !n order o susain a cause o' acion based on proper& b& he occupaion heor&
one mus have acua+ possession. !n order o have possession o' !erae naturae &ou musdeprive he ,ame o' is naura+ +iber& renderin, escape impossib+e.
+ou"ces o# la$
• aues Iconsidered 'irsJ
o Cour said 9( +ac>ed re+evan municipa+ saues
o B8* 9( had re+evan saues
Perhaps cour didn) >now hem
A+so prob+em abou wheher or no o receive co+onia+ saues IBriish
B+ac> Acs on poachin, mi,h have app+ied bu ,iven he recenrevo+uion he cour avoided usin, such dis+i>ed +awJ
• Common +aw cases
o 9(
9()s common +aw record was mea,er ICaines on+& on hird vo+umeJ
o cour assumes his is a case on which here is no domesic auhori&
o 2n,+and I "ee#leJ
Assumes abi+i& o receive Briish common +aw
Cour cies "ee#le bu disin,uishes sa&in, in "ee#le acion was 'or
ma+icious+& disurbin, L)s emp+o&men and L c+ear+& had possession
disincion acua++& no rue bu cour reporin, was bad bac> hen
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Keeble V. Hickeringill , =in5s -ench, 6707 4p16> 4/ilbe"t5s 9
• Background : L sho owards G)s proper& o scare awa& duc>s in
G)s deco& pond IL a+so operaed deco& pondJ
• Holding : L hindered G in eercise o' privae 'ranchise ,raned b&he >in, Ii.e. capurin, o' duc>sJ
• u+e: Bars ma+icious iner'erence in a +e,iimae enerprise.
• $isincion 'rom Post :
o Cour in Post : 6ar,e capia+ invesmen in "ee#le no so in
Post
o $onahue: $isincion beween Pierson and "ee#le is
po+ic&;based s '+& awa& and so he& end up on no one)sab+e Ibad economic resu+J
esu+ in Pierson is he same wheher Pierson or
Pos >i++s he 'o Oher app+icab+e 2n,+ish cases based on saues he cour didn) +i>e Iwere
c+ass basedJ cour chose no o receive@ hose saues
o Oher common;+aw Durisdicions
• Wisdom
o /+ea and B+ac>sone 2n,+ish commenaors on 2n,+ish +aw Isomewhere beween
bindin, preceden and ,enera+ wisdomJ
o Fusinian re+evan because used b& /+ea and B+ac>sone Fusinian: (ou acHuire proper& in an anima+ on+& b& capurin, i mere
woundin, is never enou,h because &ou can never be sure &ou)++ cach iuni+ &ou acua++& do
!' woundin, isn) enou,h c+ear+& pursui isn) enou,h eiher
o 9aura+ +aw auhoriies IPu''endor' M Babe&racJ
Babe&rac: +abor heor& I+i>e 6oc>eJ: peop+e ,ain proper& because he&
have +abored o acHuire,e i
• o 'o shou+d be Pos)s because he +abored o acHuire i
Pu''endor': Huasi;occupaion heor& I+i>e obbesJ: I1J &ou mus have
ph&sica+ conro+ over he beas o possess i and I#J &ou mus have a saein order o have proper&
• Cusom
o $issens 'avors see>in, auhori& 'rom cusom bu
o aDori& doesn) raise cusom because i wasn) proved in he dec+araion and no
evidence abou cusom was presened
• Po+ic&
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o $a%ority: Con'errin, ownership ri,hs based on mere si,h and pursui wou+d
increase +ii,aionK sa&s is pre'erred ru+e is c+ear and simp+e 'aci+iain,en'orcemen Ione who doesn) shoo wi++ ,ive up and wa+> awa& and no 'i+e suiJ
o Dissent : A++owin, Pierson o ,e awa& wih >i++in, he 'o wi++ discoura,e huners
'orm invesin, ime mone& and ener,& ino hunin, which means 'ewer dead
'oes and more unhapp& 'armers• Common sense
o *he case is p+ain si++&K cour canno reso+ve he ension
o Cour +oo>s 'or a wa& ou which an'ord provides wih Fusinian
Reasonin p"ocess ? Di' the cou"t ha&e to "each this "esult3
• 9o because Fusinian is no bindin, in 9( even in 1"05
o *here)s a common +aw case ha shows an a+ernaive oucome I "ee#leJ
o Po+ic& +eads he oher wa& a +eas ac he dissen
o Cusom ma& +ead he oher wa&
• 2ven i' we +oo> o Fusinian
o e doesn) dea+ wih his paricu+ar &pe o' case Ia bu 'or he iner'erence wou+d
have cau,h@ issueJo *he c+oses ana+o,ue is decided as a maer o' imperia+ 'ia raher han naura+ +aw
o *hree o' he naura+ +aw wriers he cour cies IBabe&rac eJ have
wriin,s ha su,,es he case shou+d come ou he oher wa& cour sides wih
Pu''endor' who para++e+s obbes Isurprisin, bc obbes ended o be dis'avoredJ
• *he po+ic& is sha>&
o aDori& assumes:
Peop+e in tis situation wi++ >now he +aw
*he ru+e i is proposin, is more cerain
• B8* he maDori&)s ru+e is +ess bri,h;+ine han a ru+e +i>emanucapure
ore dispues occur a he capure sa,e han a he possession sa,e
o $issen assumes:
/oes are a bad hin,
Peop+e in tis situation wi++ >now he +aw
A++owin, Pos o ,e he 'o wi++ encoura,e huners
• B8* he end resu+ I>i++in, o' 'oJ isn) rea++& he purpose o' he
hunin,
Commonwealth v. Agway, +upe"io" (t1 o# P, 6>@7 4p10 4/ilbe"t5s @• Background : L IA,wa&J dischar,ed chemica+s ino sae;owned cree> >i++in, housands
o' wi+d 'ish in he cree>
• /rom he poin o' view o' he PA Aorne&
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• /rom he poin o' view o' a +e,is+aive commiee:
o 2isin, PA 'ish saue Iwih maimum N1000 'ine no hi,h enou,h o
discoura,e po++uin, so ha)s wh& PA brou,h suiJ purpored o be heec+usive remed&@ 'or >i++in, 'ish in his wa&
• *he pub+icprivae disinciono ae here r&in, o use privae IorJ +aw o so+ve pub+ic +aw prob+em
• Holding : sae has po+ice power over he 'ish bu does no own hemK hus he sae canno
co++ec dama,es when he 'ish are >i++ed
• u+e: A overei,n does no absen ep+ici +e,is+aion o he conrar& have a proper&
ineres over !erae naturae wihin is boundaries o Dusi'& is brin,in, sui 'or respassover dama,e o ha proper&.
• &atione soli: *he owner o' +and has auhori& no on+& o preven appropriaion b& ohers
bu an aemp a appropriaion ma& be rendered ine''ecive b& his ri,h o c+aim he bene'i o' he aemp
o 2.,. B a respasser >i++s mus>ras on A)s +and. A a mus>ra rapper sues B o
recover he va+ue o' he >i++ed mus>ras. A recovers no 'or he mus>ras >i++edIbecause he& were no his proper& he didn) have hem in his possession a
he ime o' heir deahJ bu 'or he +oss o' 'uure harvess Io' he now;deadmus>rasJ
*h% 'i' the% "each this "esult3 The place $he"e the aca'e!ic an' the p"actical !eet
• Brea>'as heor& o' Durisprudence I+e,a+ rea+ismJ: decision depends on wha he Dud,e ae
'or brea>'aso rucure unconscious
• 6unch heor& Isocia+ heor&J: decision depends on who he Dud,e had +unch wih
o !neress conscious• Pe,s heor&: Dud,e 'o++ows iniia+ insinc ha cause ougt o ,o a cerain wa& +isenin, o
ar,umens on+& o 'ind a pe, o han, his ha on@o Paricu+arism
*he"e 'oes this lea' us3 The #o"A in the "oa'
• *he hi,h road: Occupaion as he roo o' proper& I JonsonJ
• *he midd+e road s&sem bui+din, wih oher cases pp.1";1-
• *he +ow road: ! wan o win and wi++ do whaever i a>es@
o Pracica+ imp+icaions he unceasin, abuse o' 'undamena+ ideas Ias in 'gway
sae knew he 'ish were in a pub+ic par> so no cause o' acion bu suedan&wa&J
Pierson Penu!b"a
Occupation theo"%
• Wha is he occupaion heor&?
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o Ph&sica+ occupaion o' an obDec ,ives a person an inheren ri,h o be proeced
o >eep i as +on, as i is in heir conro+ ac o' seiure +eads o ri,h
o e+aes o common proper& seied 'or individua+ use IB+ac>soneJ
• *o wha een is i a Dusi'icaion o' proper&?
o $escripive:
As descripive heor& occupaion heor& a+mos cerain+& wron,
proper& sared ou bein, possessed b& ,roupsc+ans'ami+ies noindividua+s
o 9ormaive:
AcHuisiiveness shou+d be proeced bc:
• 2nab+es humans o 'u+'i++ basic needs Iensurin, surviva+ o' he
raceJ
• Proecs human wi++
• On he ,round o' e''icienc& Ias sarin, poin 'or he mar>e
mar>e can) wor> un+ess &ou can easi+& a++ocae resourcesJ
• !n order o proec he peace Ioherwise here)d be 'i,hin, in he
srees
Johnson v. M’Intosh, U+ +(, 682 4p1+;
• Background : Fohnson c+aimed he +and b& a purchase and conve&ance direc+& 'rom he
Pian>eshaw !ndians whi+e )!nosh c+aimed he +and b& a patent ,ran 'rom he 8niedaes I'o++owin, cession o' +and o 8 b& Briish 'o++owin, evo+uionJ. *he Fohnson
'ami+& had bou,h he +and prior o he 8 ,ran o )!nosh bu none o' hem had hadacua+ possession o' he +and because o' he American evo+uion
• Holding : Pian>eshaw)s +ac>ed power o conve& +and o Fohnson)s so )!nosh owns he
+and
• u+e: !' a coun& has been acHuired and he+d under conHues and he proper& o' he ,rea
mass o' he communi& ori,inaes in ha conHues he subDu,aed peop+e are proeced as peace'u+ occupans bu deemed incapab+e o' rans'errin, abso+ue i+e o ohers
• Wh& no 'o++ow occupaion heor& here?
o *he !ndians didnQ occup&
• $idn) improve he +and as whies wou+d Iwandered around inseadJ and
re'used o assimi+aeo Possession doesnQ eHua+ power o conve&
• /o++owin, discover& !ndians reained a ri,h o' occupanc& bu 2uropean
,overnmens obained a ri,h o ein,uish@ !ndian i+e hrou,h eiher I1J purchase or I#J conHues
o 6os b& conHues
• ConHues ,ives a i+e which he cours o' he conHueror canno den&
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• Fohnson)s rans'er dependen on soverei,n& or Pian>eshaw ,o o
Pian>eshaw cour o susain &our i+eo overei,n& M derivaive power
• Cour can) issue a ru+in, ha con'+ics wih he acs o' he soverei,n upon
whom he power o' he cour ress in 8 cour 8 conve&ances rump
!ndian conve&ances
U v. Percheman, U+ +(, 68 4+6
• Background : R ,raned +and b& /6 ,overnor be'ore panish cession o' /6 in 1"1-
va+id or does 8 own he +and 'o++owin, cession?
• Holding :
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o !n addiion o recoverin, 'or possession in eDecmen a+so ,e mesne pro!itswhich
are he rena+ va+ue o' he proper& durin, he ime o' dispossession p+us an&reducion in is va+ue 'or wase or inDur&
o Jus tertii Iri,h o' a hird par&J de'ense: $e'ense based on showin, ha G +ac>s
i+e because rue i+e +ies in anoher person
"a#scott v. Cobbs$ VA Ct. o% A##eals$ &'() *#.(+, 4/ilbe"t5s ;9
• Background : 6essee o' Cobbs brin,s sui o eDec *apsco who had no i+e o he +and.
Cobbs had no acua+ i+e o he +and bu has a c+aim o he +and a>in o or d)ancesoras her moher had been in possession prior o her deah. !n he meanime *apscomoved ono +and and seied possession. *he rue i+e is in a hird par& who is noc+aimin, a ri,h o he +and hrou,h his case
• Holding : Cobbs wins bc Cobbs was in peaceab+e possession when *apsco enered wo
i+e
• u+e: As a ,enera+ maer he %us tertii de'ense is no avai+ab+e. *he +aw proecs a
peaceab+e possession a,ains ever&one bu he rue owner.
• Wha acion in 1#50? Wh& is his si++ an issue in he 1-h cenur&?
• Wha does he 'irs senence o' he opinion mean?
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• Background : Wincheser)s +and was '+ooded as a resu+ o' a di>e bui+ b& he Ci& o'
even)s Poin. he sues he ci& o recover dama,es done o proper. he did have possession and a paper chain o' i+e bu had a minor de'ec in her deed.
• Holding : Because Wincheser sued 'or permanen dama,es done o her proper& she
needed o show abso+ue i+e o he proper&. he can) show abso+ue i+e so she can)
recover.• u+e: Permanen dama,es o proper& ma& no be recovered un+ess p+aini'' is ab+e o
prove abso+ue i+e. I PPLIE+ *.EN B (LI+ O*NER+.IP
• Wh& is he ci& a++owed o raise he %us tertii?
o R was suin, 'or permanen inDur&capia+ dama,e o he +and i.e. dama,es o
'uure va+ue o' he +and concern ha i' Wincheser wasn) rue owner ci&
mi,h have o pa& a,ain i' someime in he 'uure rue owner came a+on, anddemanded pa&men
o Cour assumes sui is 'or permanen dama,es because L is ci&. !n re,u+ar sui G
wou+d ,e inDuncion orderin, remova+ o' di>e. ere ci& has soverei,nimmuni& and hus a ri,h o bui+d he di>e meanin, di>e is here o sa&.
• Wha happened o he po+ic& o' proecin, peaceab+e possession?
o *his is a ver& di''eren acion 'rom Tapscott . ere Wincheser is see>in,
dama,es o 'uure va+ue o' her +and Isi++ had possessionJ. !n Tapscott G Duswaned ri,h'u+ possession bac>.
• 9eed he ci& worr& abou havin, o pa& wice?
o 9o since Wincheser on+& had one minor de'ec in her i+e I1 winess raher han
he reHuired # si,ned one o' he deeds somewhere a+on, he wa&Jo Ci& sould have issued condemnaion acion on Wincheser)s proper& eni+in,
her o compensaion 'or dama,es ci& did o her proper&
*h% -inchester 'i##e"ent #"o! "a#scott • Wincheser underoo> o prove ownership
• Wincheser mus prove ownership because sheQs see>in, permanen dama,es
o ow o do his a common +aw show c+ear i+e a++ he wa& bac> o he ,ran
'rom he soverei,no *he prob+em o' soverei,n immuni&
Ci& as soverei,n had a ri,h o bui+d he di>e so cour can) ,ran
inDuncion 'orcin, ci& o remove he di>e hus Wincheser)s recover&
mus be in erms o' 'uure dama,es o he va+ue o' he proper&
• Po+ic& o' proecin, peaceab+e possession
o ae proecs peaceab+e possession as a,ains dispossessors no necessari+& 'or
'uure dama,es
• Po+ic& a,ains doub+e recover&
o ecover& no a++owed i' possibi+i& o' rue owner comin, a+on, and +aer
demandin, pa&men 'or dama,es
+u!!a"%
• Possessionseisin;based noion o' ownership
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• Wh&? Po+icies and princip+es:
o Proo' no sensib+e o a+wa&s reHuire c+ear i+e Ishowin, c+ear i+eownership
hard o doSJo Peace imporan o have c+ear ru+es 'or se+in, dispues
Crimina+
Civi+o Possession worh proecin, in ise+'?
-1 Possession &s1 O$ne"ship
'&e"se Possession
'&e"se possession ? +tat1 26 Cac1 6 46@2
• Chan,e in mehod he runnin, ou o' he 6 on a cause o' acion IcaJ
• ConseHuences o' he saue 'or ownership
o /ai+in, o brin, acion in eDecmen a,ains an adverse possessor wihin he ime
period speci'ied b& sae saue I1J bars he +andowner 'rom herea'er brin,in,said acion and I#J ,ives he adverse possessor i+e o +and
*he barrin, o' eDecmen is wha acua++& ein,uishes *O)s i+eo ence ownership can epire
o Be'ore runnin, ou 6 AP si++ has possessor& i+eTbeer i+e han ever&one
bu he *Oo AP ries re+aivi& o' i+es
o A'er he new i+e has been creaed adverse possessor ma& rans'er his i+e in
an& usua+ manner Ideed wi++ or inesac& o heirsJ bu CA9)* record his i+e Ibcarises 'rom operaion o' +aw raher han a recordab+e documenJ uni+ he brin,s anaction to uiet title Idecree o' +awsui wi++ be recorded and wi++ dec+are AP has+e,a+ i+eJ
o Because a new i+e is creaed he adverse possessor is NOT in p"i&it% wih he
prior owner Iso easemens covenans ec. do no necessarily app+&J
• /ive essenia+ e+emens I BelottiJ
o ctual: Possession mus be o' such a characer ha he communi& wou+d
reasonab+& re,ard he adverse possessor as he owner. ! canno ,enera++& beconsrucive possession@ bu mus be acua+.
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o Eclusi&e: 9o inc+udin, an& ohersT9o sharin, wih he owner or wih he
pub+ic ,enera++&. i,h o possession can be shared amon, wo or more peop+esimu+aneous+& Icoenans or concurren ownersJ
Peters v. J!nea!/o!glas 0irl co!t Co!ncil , = +up1 (t1, 6>7; 4p17
4/ilbe"t5s 2>
• Background : *+in,i !ndian and his 'ami+& had been c+aimin, andusin, he +and 'or around 3 &ears bu he rue owner was s bro>e AP)s coninui&
o' possession and AP hasn) adverse+& possessed 'or reHuired 6since ha brea> in coninui&. *here'ore AP no esab+ished i+e.
• $onahue: *his decision is wrong bc o' A +aw ha sa&s 6 no
o++ed un+ess I1J *O 'i+es +awsui wihin one &ear o' enr& or I#J*O reacHuires possession 'or one 'u++ &ear Ino ;4 wee>s as in
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his caseJ i)s amain, how o'en common;+aw decisions in 8
i,nore re+evan saues eHuires on+& he de,ree o' occupanc& and he use ha he av,. owner
wou+d ma>e o' he paricu+ar &pe o' proper& so can be coninuous evenwih considerab+e inerva+s absen 'rom proper&. 2en o which use
mus be coninuous depends on how a *O wou+d use he proper& Peters: Coninui& o' possession is no a sric necessi& o' adverse
possession bu coninui& o' possession mus be assessed in +i,h o' hewa& a rue owner wou+d use he +and Iso seasona+ use is someimesenou,hJ.
Belotti: AP can tack her own period b& predecessors in ineres providin,
here is privity o! estate beween he adverse possessorsTIpossessorvo+unari+& rans'erred o a subseHuen possessor eiher an esae in +and or ph&sica+ possessionJ
3elotti v. 3ickhar1t , NY (t1 o# ppeals, 6>20 4p1@ 4/ilbe"t5s @
• Background : Bic>hard)s predecessors in ineres had bui+ +and
overreachin, he boundaries o' +and owned in i+e b& Be+oi)s predecessors. Be+oi sues 'or remova+ o' he in'rin,in, porions o' bui+din,
o *ria+ cour said Bic>hard)s predecessors sa+e o Bic>hard
was campertous Ise++in, o' cause o' acion o someonee+seJ
o *hree ,enera+ conceps o' +e,a+ ehics ha aren) a++owed
Iunder idea ha we don) wan hird paries ,oin, aroundsirrin, up +ii,aionJ:
Barratry: ,oin, around sirrin, up +ii,aion
Camperty: se++in, a cause o' acion o someone
e+se $aintenance: ,ivin, someone mone& o mainain
heir sui
• Holding : Because Bic>hard)s predecessors had a++ been in privi&
o' esae heir periods o' adverse possession o' he in'rin,in, porion cou+d a++ be combined b& ac>in, and so he& had acHuiredha porion o' he +and b& adverse possession
• u+e: An AP ma& ac>@ his period o' adverse possession o
periods o' adverse possession b& predecessors in ineres soseparae periods o' adverse possession b& seHuenia+ possessors in
privi& ma& be combined o de'ea he 6• u+e: *ha he deed conve&in, he proper& did no acua++&
describe he adverse+& possessed proper& as par o' heconve&ance wi++ no de'ea a c+aim o' adverse possession
• Privity o! estate: A possessor voluntarily rans'erred o a
subseHuen possessor eiher an esae in he +and or ph&sica+ possession o' he +and.
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o *ac>in, canno be app+ied hen i' an adverse possession
acHuired +and b& ousin, a prior adverse possessor as herans'er wou+d no be vo+unar& and privi& wou+d no eis
o .ostile an' un'e" clai! o# "iht: C+aims o ho+d +and as i' an owner. Canno be
permissive+& usin, +and +easin, +and or in an& wa& admiin, subordinaion o
he rue owner)s i+e. ome saues sa& c+aim o' ri,h necessiaes some co+or o'i+e bu no reHuired in a++ saes.
Peters: *he >e& o he hosi+i& reHuiremen is acua+ occupaion o' +and
wihou he permission o' he owner despie an& acua+ i+e in he +and AP ,enera++& doesn) have o c+aim i+e in order o possess Iand win an
eDecmen suiJ AP)s sae o' mind I,ood; or bad;'aihJ ,enera++& read
ou o' saueimmaeria+ Ihou,h no a+wa&sJ
• One sud& however showed ha no maer wha cours sa& he&
do in 'ac decide a,ains adverse possession c+aims o' hose whoener in bad 'aih
osi+e and under c+aim o' ri,h@ di''er: one can be hosi+e wihou
c+aimin, ri,h Behavin, +i>e &ou have permission ma& esop &ou 'rom runnin, ou o6
9orma++& a +i'e enan canno adverse+& possess a,ains a remainderman
un+ess he or she does somehin, ha ,ives noice ha he or she is ho+din,adverse+&. imi+ar+& a sib who resides wih sib who is owner o' he proper& is norma++& assumed o be residin, here wih he sib;owner)s permission.@ $onahue re *erre de Bois eam.
(ou cou+d ma>e he case in he *erre do Bois eam ha heir se++in, he
50;&ear +ease was somehin, ha 'ee;owners no +i'e enans wou+d doand his ma& have ,iven noice o he ohers
• $erivaion o' he 5 essenia+ e+emens
o Acua+: !' no acua+ here canno be a cause o' acion
o 2c+usive: Possession b& de'iniion denoes ec+usivi& i' &ou possess@ +and
&ou b& de'iniion possess i ec+usive+&o Open and noorious: s&mpahiin, w*O i' AP is snea>& ha shou+d esop AP
'rom raisin, his adverse possession as a de'ense o eDecmeno osi+e and under c+aim o' ri,h: !dea is o warn *O o' he adverse possession
i' possession is permissive i canno b& de'iniion be adverseo Coninuous: 2+iminain, coninui& reHuiremen wou+d a++ow 'irs AP o ,e +and
even i' he had i 'or on+& #0 minues under 'irs in ime is sron,er in ri,h@ 2ach new AP ,ives rise o a new cause o' acion un+ess here)s been
ac>in,@• Po+ic& o' he saue
o 6aches Ipunish *OJ
o eward Ireward AP 'or usin, he +andJ
o C+earin, i+es
Cour o'en doesn) >now who *O is en'orcin, o6 a++ows cour o
Huie i+e which 'aci+iae conve&ancin,
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)o*rigt : 6ac> o' a ri,h ha someone e+se sha++ no do somehin,
o Power : One)s a''irmaive conro+@ over Ipower o chan,eJ a ,iven +e,a+ re+aion
as a,ains anoher Peop+e subDec o a power have a lia#ility
6iabi+i& no necessari+& a bad hin, ! ma& wan +iabi+i& o +andowner)s
power o conve& +and o meo +mmunity: One)s 'reedom 'rom he +e,a+ power or conro+@ o' anoher as re,ards
some +e,a+ acion Iabi+i& o preven he chan,e o' a +e,a+ re+aionshipJ
• Corre+aives:
o *o undersand a +e,a+ concep +oo> a he corre+aive
When A has or does no have some +e,a+ concep wha does ha mean 'or
B Ias 'ar as wha B hen does or does no haveJ?o Because ! have such;and;such@ ri,h wha do &ou have? Ia du& o meJ
o Converse+& because ! have such;and;such@ du& o &ou wha do &ou have? Ia
ri,hJo A+so noe:
A ri,h is a c+aim a,ains anoherK a privi+e,e is a 'reedom 'rom he c+aim
o' anoher o A power is a conro+ o' a +e,a+ re+aion as a,ains anoherK an immuni& is a
'reedom 'rom he conro+ o' +e,a+ re+aion as a,ains anoher I&ourse+'J
• App+icaion:
o & ri,h@ o possession means &ou have a du&@ o sa& o'' Iwih some
ecepionsJo ! have he privi+e,e@ no he ri,h o use m& +and since ohers have no du&
re,ardin, how ! use m& +and bu insead have no ri,h@ o preven m& use !.e. havin, a privi+e,e means ohers have no ri,h@ o sop me 'rom
usin, io ! wan +iabi+i&@ o &our power@ o conve& +and because hen ! can ,e some o'
&our +and. Once &ou)ve ,iven me an easemen ! have he privi+e,e@ o use &our+and since &ou have no ri,h@ o sop me 'rom doin, so
o When someone sa&s ! have he ri,h no o have m& proper& a>en awa&
wihou compensaion@ wha he& mean is he& have immuni&@ 'rom someoneeercisin, such power meanin, he ,overnmen has he corre+aive disabi+i&.
• "ee#le in oh'e+dian erms:
o U a+so has he rigt o 'reedom 'rom ma+icious iner'erences wih his usin, his
pond hence had he duty no o iner'ere.o U had he privilege o own his deco& pond hence had no rigt o preven U
'rom havin, he pond. o lan' use is a #rivilege, not a "iht
Privi+e,e o' use a+mos a+wa&s connecs wih cerain ri,hs and duies bu
he& are no coe(tensive wih he privi+e,e o' use. *hus when &ou sa& hasomeone has he privi+e,e o' use &ou canno in'er an&hin, abou ri,hsand duies.
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The position o# P in .oh#el'ian te"!s
• i,h IpossessionJ
o AP has rigt o possess as a,ains ever&one bu *O
o 2ver&one e+se has duty o sa& o'' he +and
• Privi+e,e IuseJ
o AP has privilege o use +and as a,ains ever&one bu *O• Power Io run ou he saueJ
o AP has power o chan,e *O)s ri,hs and privi+e,es b& runnin, ou he saue
o *O has power o eDec i' 6 hasn) run ou
o *O is lia#le o have saue run ou a,ains him
• Power Iconve&J Belotti
AP has power o conve& I1J ri,h o possession and I#J privi+e,e o use
+and as a,ains a++ bu *O Ib& ac>in,@J AP# has power o ,e wha AP1 has
2ver&one has he lia#ility o accep he possession
!' *O has conve&ed +.e. and rdr. AP is disa#led 'rom runnin, ou o6a,ains remanderman Ihas no power o do soJ uni+ +i'e enan dies
correspondin,+& remainderman is immune 'rom havin, o6 run uni+ +i'eenan dies
• A+so *O has power o conve& Ieven when dispossessed un+ess here)s a champer&
saue ha sa& he can)J and immunity 'rom havin, sae a>e +and Ii.e. chan,e his ri,hs privi+e,es and powers re: he +andJ wo compensaion
P"oble!s 4in .oh#el'ian te"!s
• O I+.e.JW IrdrJC W +eaves AP eners and sa&s 'or #1 &rso !' a'er AP has run ou saue on W C sues AP
&esult : C wins
• aue wou+d no run a,ains C uni+ W dies since uni+ hen C has
no ri,h o possession or o brin, possessor& acion
• AP enerin, durin, W)s enure means ha W has a ca ha passes
o her successors in ineres. C is no W)s successor in ineressince he ,o his ineres 'rom *O Iraher is a successor in possessionJ
• C has immunity 'rom have 6 run a,ains him uni+ W dies
Because he remainderman has no cause o' acion uni+ he +i'e enan diescoup+ed wih he ver& common disabi+i& o' insani& AP canno be cerainabou ,ein, he p+ace uni+ wo +i'eimes have passed IconseHuence hereis ha i can a>e +on,er o Huie i+esJ
o !' AP eners be'ore O conve&s
&esult : AP wins
• ubseHuen +and division does no a''ec he saue o' +imiaions
runnin,.
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• aDori& ru+e: O can) ari'icia++& eend o6 hrou,h conve&ance
so o6 runs a,ains boh W and C
• inori& ru+e: O can) conve& under he champer& ru+e Ino
havin, possession a++ O can cove& is a cause o' acionJ
• ere C)s barred since whaever O conve&ed is subDec o AP)s
adverse possession IA++ ha O)s conve&ed here is he ri,h o possession o' +and ha a+read& had he o6 runnin, a,ains iJ
• C can brin, a Huie i+e acion even be'ore W dies
• AP I+.e.JW IrdrJC W dies C eners O sues
o 9eiher W nor C has he+d 'or he sauor& period bu o,eher he& have
&esult : O)s ou o' +uc>
• AP conve&s no on+& he +i'e esae and remainder bu a+so power
o run ou he saue and an& ime run on he saue so 'ar Iadverse possession ac>ed@ o,eherJ
o A'er ho+din, 'or sauor& period W * W dies C sues *
&esult : 8su. C wins based on esoppe+
• W is esopped 'rom conve&in, an&hin, more han wha she
received Ia +i'e esaeJ bc W wasn) c+aimin, adverse+& o C
• C is now *O bc W ran ou o6 no on+& 'or herse+' bu 'or C
• O I+.e.JW IrdrJC conve&ance is void W eners and ho+d 'or sauor& period *
and dies C sueso &esult : 8su. * wins
W adverse+& possessed a,ains C wo rea+iin, i
Oher possibi+i&: !' 'ami+& siuaion proper& passed b& inesac& o C
Ihe heirJ in such a case W ma& be esopped 'rom c+aimin, AP Icour
ma& 'ind W had permission@ 'rom C o use proper& even hou,h bohhou,h he conve&ance was rea+J
(otenancies
• Joint tenant : i' one co;enan dies he oher a>es he dead co;enan)s share
• Tenants in common: i' one co;enan dies his heirs a>e his share
• !)s possib+e 'or one co;enan o adverse+& possess a,ains anoher bu ver& di''icu+
Iusu. reHuires co;enan who wans o adverse+& possess o send re,isered +eer o oherco;enan noi'&in, him o' he adverse possessionJ
(1 Possession o" O$ne"ship: *hat Is It *o"th3
0eragosian an' Peters
*hat is the "ule o# the 0eragosian case3
• 0eragosian v. Union 4ealty Co.1, +up1 Cu'icial (t1, 6>9 4p+0 4/ilbe"t5s
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o Background : 8)s heare)s hird;'+oor overhan,in, 'ire escape and under,round
pipe encroach on es and didno iner'ere wih presen uses o' e his case ou o' ha ,enera+ru+e so < mus remove encroachmens
o u+e: /ene"all%, an o$ne" o# lan' is entitle' to an in72 4p1269 4/ilbe"t5s
o Background : P had a surve& o' heir +and per'ormed and b& i discovered ha A)shouse was encroachin, on heir +and 'or a+mos 10V o' heir proper&. here wereaccurae re,israion ceri'icaes o' boh +os and here was no su,,esion in eiherha A had an& ri,hs in P)s +and.
o Holding : A mus remove he par o' heir house ha is encroachin, heir +and Ihis
wi++ resu+ in heir havin, o comp+ee+& demo+ish heir home inDuncion
,raned despie subsania+ burden on LJ. Cour sa&s ha *he p+aini''s wereeni+ed o receive whaever was shown b& he +and re,israion ceri'icae as
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be+on,in, o heir ,ranor unencumbered b& an& unre,isered prescripiveeasemen or encroachmen.@
Because +and was re,isered A cou+dn) adverse+& possess a,ains P.
o u+e: 2ension o' e rena+ va+ueTdurin, he ime o'dispossession bu here ha)s nohin,.
o Prospective damages i.e. how he wron, e''ecs he poenia+ use o' he +and:
here wou+d a+so +i>e+& be nohin,
• Bene'i o Lo &estitution damages i.e. reward o G o ba+ance ou unDus enrichmen b& L:
I1J L ,ained nohin, 'rom he wron, pipe cou+d have Dus as easi+&
been bui+ on L)s proper& and 'ire escape encroachmen is ne,+i,ib+e or I#J L wou+d ,ain N400 'rom no needin, o remove he pipe Ionly i' &ou
+oo> 'orwardJ
E##ect o# "antin in
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o 2iher wa& here)s ,oin, o be a wase or resources: rebui+din, he per'ec+& ,ood
pipe wou+d wase resources as wou+d L)s pa&in, G 'or pipe ha)s doin, no harmo G. hou+d ma>e us s>iish abou ,ranin, inDuncions in cases +i>e his
o now one anoher)s brea>in, poins and IJ he& mus demonsrae
heir deerminaion ,ranin, he inDuncion wi++ +i>e+& resu+ in resourcemisa++ocaion
*h% 'i' the uppe" cou"t hol' as it 'i'3
• easons o''ered b& he cour Iand $onahue)s counerar,umensJ:
o Cour: Oherwise L mi,h someda& c+aim adverse possession or prescription
Iprivi+e,e a,ains a *O o do somehin, which wou+d have previous+& been i++e,a+i' i)s been done i 'or he 6 basica++& adverse possession ha ,es &ou
easemenJ $onahue: Bu even be'ore he 'ive e+emens adverse possession or
prescripion reHuires a cause o' acion. !' &ou rede'ine AP and
prescripion such ha cause o' acion doesn) arise i++ harm)s been done&ou undermine he cour)s ar,umen.
o Cour: Oherwise G wou+d choose more di+aor& mehod I+i>e nuisanceJ
$onahue: *o brin, nuisance acion &ou mus have been harmed bu
here)s no harm here. ence here)s no possibi+i& 'or abaemen and hecour)s ar,umen doesn) rea++& ma>e an& sense.
o Cour: Breach o' peace wou+d resu+ 'rom +andowner aempin, o ri,h own
wron,. $onahue: A,ain here)s been no nuisance because here)s no harm.
Cerain siuaions where se+';he+p mehods are prescribed 'or nuisanceT
c+assic eamp+eTwhen ree)s branches han, over m& proper& and m&nei,hbor won) rim hem ! can rim hem.
o Cour: 9orma++& can) a>e proper& a va+uaion save under eminen domain.
*hus a++owin, L his opion Ipa&in, mone& dama,es raher han removin, pipeJwou+d ,ive him ,overnmen;+i>e powers which we don) wan.
$onahue: Ar,umen wor>s on+& i' &ou assume ha inDuncion)s wha)s
norma++& ,raned so here)s +o,ica+ prob+em.
o Cour: *he +and)s uniHue.
$onahue: Bu rea++& here was p+en& o' simi+ar +and around. *his
ar,umen)s he on+& one ha survives $onahue)s counerar,umens
•Wa&s ou
o /octrine o% relative har1shi#: !' inDuncive re+ie' wou+d cause much more harm
o L han bene'i o G cour has discreion o den& he inDuncion. Cos o'
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o 8nc+ean hands Ibad 'aihJ: i o he ban> Ima&be a+so ani;emiic bias a,ains ban>ownersJ
+o!e concepts: Fee, leasehol', ease!ent
• Easement is non;possessor& and non;ec+usive ri,hprivi+e,e o' use Iri,h o' wa&J
• -easeolder has ri,hs o ec+ude and possess bu hose ri,hs wi++ epire a'er awhi+e
• ee older has a++ ri,hs privi+e,es powers immuniies ha eis wih respec o he
proper& 'orever o e)s he de'au+ ho+der in which An,+o;American and oman +aw dumped a++ he
ri,hs ec.
51war1s
-acA"oun'
• Apri+ 1-#" 6ee 'i+es sui dama,es an accounin, o' cave pro'is and an inDuncion
showin, peop+e on cave under his +andTCour sa&s &ou need a surve&
• Edwards v. -ee #0 U&. 70 I1-#-J iner+ocuor& appea+ denied bc no 'ina+ Dud,men
• Edwards v. Sims ## U&. 7-1 I1-#-J prohibiion acion a,ains Dud,es 2dwards +oses
• Edwards v. -ee #50 U&. 133 I1-#J appea+ o 'i he boundaries
• Edwards v. -ee/s 'dm/r #35 U&. 41" I1-3J dama,es awarded
The (ase
• 51war1s v. ims, =Y (t1 o# ppeals, 6>2> 4p1228 4/ilbe"t5s @
o Background : 2dwards discovers cave paria++& on his ,round and paria++& on6ee)s. Wihou consu+in, 6ee 2dwards improves he cave and sars char,in,admission and ma>in, mone& o'' o' i. es +and b& eminen domain and compensaes 2dwards 'or he a>in, b& ca+cu+ain, heva+ue o' his presen revenue sream. 6ee sues 2dwards 'or some o' he proceeds bc par o' he cave is under his +and.
o Holding : 6ee owns he par o' he cave direc+& under his +and I segmented
accession teoryJ. 6ee)s porion o' he cave consiues approimae+& 1 o' he
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oa+ sie o' he cave. *here'ore 6ee eni+ed o resiuion dama,es Io avoid2dwards) unDus enrichmenJ eHua+in, 1 o' he pro'is 2dwards made o'' hecave.
o u+e: suberranean cave is proper& o' owners o' +and above i. o secure 'or hemse+ves he+ion)s share o' he ,ain 'rom he ransacion because each par& can hreaen owa+> awa& and comp+ee+& ho+d up use
Theo"ies o# ca&e o$ne"ship• 'ccession: Ownership o' suberranean resources accedes o whomever owns sur'ace
o e,mened: ur'ace owners separae+& own cave wih each ownin, he area
direc+& beneah he sur'ace he& own Idraw +ine 'rom sur'ace boundaries o cener o' he earh and divide up boundaries ha wa&J
*his is he heor& ha wins in boh cases
o Foin: ur'ace owners Doin+& own who+e cave in proporion o he sie o' he
sur'ace area he& own meanin, he& canno enDoin one anoher 'rom use 2ver& par& wih an ineres can use he cave and he& a++ mus share
pro'is Advana,e: 2ncoura,es ep+oiaion o' resource bc no one owner can
preven he use o' anoher • &es nullius: Cave be+on,s o no one uni+ someone 'inds and ma>es use o' i
o ouh owner: Person who owns enrance o cave owns he cave once he)s
ep+ored i *hou,h havin, he mouh on &our proper& ma& no immediae+& ,ive &ou
ownership i does ,ive &ou ec+usive ep+oiaion ri,hso 2p+orer: Person who 'irs discovers and ep+ores he cave owns i
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*ension beween mouh owner and ep+orer
• Ana+o,ous o siuaion where a huner capures an anima+ on
someone e+se)s +and who owns he anima+ he person who did
he cachin, or he person on whose +and he anima+ was cau,h?o $eve+oper: Person who deve+ops he cave owns i
• &egalian rigts: 8nep+ored resources be+on, o he sae and are a++ocaed ou accordin,o pub+ic po+ic&
o e,a+ian@ re'ers o he >in,
o 8nder his heor& he ,overnmen mus pa& mone& o he +andowners o eercise
is ri,h o he cave
*hatGs the !ae hin,s ou o' he earh whereas 2dwards oo> nohin,
• *he air ri,hs cases disin,uished
o !n air ri,hs cases owner ,es nohin, as +on, as p+ane doesn) disurb him and
+eaves no mar> Idissen used his ana+o,&Jo imi+ar in his case because 2dwards removes nohin, and 6ee isn) disurbed and
can) access he caveo $i''eren bc p+anes +eave no mar> whereas 2dwards made pahs
• Ps&cho+o,&?
o 6ee)s more +i>e+& disurbed b& hin,s be+ow,round han b& p+anes overhead
• $i''icu+ies wih he 6o,an heor& IdissenJ
o 6o,an sa&s se,mened accession removes incenive o deve+op he caveo Counerar,umen: a&be ,ein, an easemen wou+d su''ice 'or incenive
The "e!e'%
• Waiver o' or and sui in assumpsi
o Suit in tort :
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• ow he cour ,o here
o 2Huiab+e accounin,
o Assumpsi 'or use and occupaion
'ction !or use and occupation: (ou use m& +and wih m& permission how
much shou+d &ou pa&?
• Possibi+i& 1: We made a conrac and 'or,o o deermine ren souse and occupaion wi++ provide ren and someimes ,iveresiuion
• Possibi+i& #: We enered ino an ora+ +ease bu shou+d have wrien
i down i,h ,ive resiuionar& dama,es bu acion 'or use and occupaion
doesn) app+& here bc no permission ,iveno Passive ransmissibi+i& Ham#ly1 Pillips
*ors die wih he L bu conrac vio+aions don) bc he esae has been
enriched
•
Cour reasons his means i' an acion survives deah i a++owresiuionar& dama,es
• Cour proposes es: !' acion survives L)s deah hen i)s a
resiuionar& acion Ibc or acion wouldn,t survive L)s deahJ Cour uses 'au+& +o,ic o conc+ude ha acions 'or mesne pro'is a++ow
resiuionar& dama,es Ibene'i o LJ bc he& survive deah !n rea+i& however acions 'or mesne pro'is on+& a++ow epecaion
dama,es I+oss o GJ Transmissi#ility: # >inds
• Passive: When &ou can sue esae 'or an ob+i,aion
• Acive When an esae can sue &ou 'or an ob+i,aion
o *rade secres When &ou sea+ someone)s rade name or secre ha)s a c+assic case 'or
resiuion Cour ma>es ana+o,& beween cave deve+opmen and rade secres bu i
doesn) wor> bc 2d made a++ he e''or
• Wha wou+d 6ee have ,oen i' 2dwards had done i ri,h Ii.e. had ,oen an easemen
'rom 6eeJ?o Accounin, pro'is does no eHua+ economic ren
*he prob+em is ha in ,ivin, 6ee 1 o' 2dwards)s accounin, pro'is he
cour didn) a>e ino accoun he capia+ Iime mone& opporuni& cosJ
2dwards invesed in deve+opin, he cave
2dwards)s economic pro'iswere +ess han his accounin, pro'is
o %ariab+es
where he 1 +a&
• Perhaps wihou 6ee)s 1 peop+e wou+d si++ have come
• A+ernae+& perhaps wihou 6ee)s 1 &ou cou+d on+& ,o #0 'ee
ino he cave
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>now+ed,e
bar,ainin, s>i++posiions
• Prob+em wih he cour)s decision was ha i decided a++ocaion
issue be'ore i decided disribuiona+ ineres
• !n decidin, who owned wha par o' he cave cour wasn)
hin>in, abou how ha a++ocaion wou+d a''ec bar,ainin, posiions
o $i''erence beween be'ore and a'er
!' our ,oa+ is wea+h maimiaion and ep+oiaion o' an unused resource
we don) care ow 2dwards and 6ee sri>e a dea+ as +on, as he& do Ii.ewe don) care abou he disribuiona+ e''ecs o' he dea+
*he wi++in,ness o ,ran an inDuncion +eads o a siuaion where a++ ma&
be worse o'' b& encoura,in, one or boh paries o re'use o dea+ i' he&don) ,e wha he& wan and a>e heir ineres and Dus ,o homeIbi+aera+ monopo+&J
Fusice *homas +oo>s ,ood here under his view i' eiher par& waned
o deve+op he cave he cave wou+d ,e deve+opedc. Wha wou+d have happened had 2dwards as>ed 'or easemen o be,in wih?
The )alue o# the (a&e
• $iscoun Amoun *ime 2Hua+s umXXX
"V N1000 1 &r. N-#3 N -#3 "V N1000 10 &rs. N43 N 3710 "V N1000 50 &rs. N #1 N1### "V N1000 100 &rs. N.45 N1#4-4
um 'rom 0 o 100 o' he P% N1000 pa Y "V = N1#4-4um 'rom 0 o in'ini& P% N1000 pa Y "V = N1#500I+as co+umn sa&s i' each &ear &ou)re ,oin, o ,e N1000 assumin, "V in'+aion heva+ue o' ha revenue sream in oda&)s do++ars isZJ
• When he cour oo> 2dwards)s cave wha i did was a>e his income sream 'rom he
&ear be'ore i oo> possession and epanded i ou o in'ini& a a 3V discoun rae whicheHua+ed N"7000J
o !dea was ha presen va+ue o' he cave was he presen va+ue o' he cave)s 'uure
income sream
D1 )e"% -"ie# Int"o'uction to the P"ope"t% You
(an5t Touch
Intellectual P"ope"t%
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Int"o'uction
• +ntellectual Property: *he cacha++@ +abe+ 'or proper& in ideas. *he erm inc+udes
cop&ri,hs paens and rademar>s bu i ma& a+so cover proper& in persona.o *he ,enera+ idea is ha &ou shou+d have a proper& ineres in wha &ou)ve
+abored o creae I+abor heor&6oc>eJ Prob+em: (ou can) rea++& a>e possession@ o' ine++ecua+ proper&
!P is di''eren 'rom he oher &pes o' proper& we sud& mos noab+&
because i' one par& acHuires a piece o' !P he oher par& does no +ose i. o re: !P we a>e an un+imied resource and view i in he same +i,h as a
+imied resource Iproper&J we analogi2e !P o proper&
o Con,ress can ,ran ec+usive ri,hs as a means o promoe pro,ress o' science
and use'u+ ars@ Con,ress has power under he Consiuion o issue paens and cop&ri,hs
*rademar>s are a+so re,u+aed in 'edera+ +aw bu no menioned in he
Consiuiono (o!!on la$ ene"all% allo$e' cop%in an' i!itation o# i'eas, but not thei"
ep"ession1 2ven when an invenor was a''orded a ri,h o proecion undercommon +aw his ri,h evaporaed as soon as an invenor eposed his wor> bunow he ri,h is proeced 'or a +en,hier a+hou,h si++ +imied ime.
o (o!petin polic% oals: T"% to nu"tu"e in'i&i'ual c"eati&it% an' "e$a"'
labo" $ithout oin too #a" b% c"eatin !onopolies an' sti#lin c"eati&it% in
othe"s1
• Uinds o' Proecion: Ia++ +imied in imeJ
o auor&:
Cop&ri,h
*rademar> Paen 6aws
o 3n!air Competition: Euasi;proper& ineres ha eiss beween compeiors
o &igt o! Pu#licity: A person ma& no use a ce+ebri&)s name +i>eness voice or
si,naure 'or pro'i wihou he ce+ebri&)s consen. *he ce+ebri&)s +abor increain, a persona o' va+ue is proeced a,ains anoher)s usin, i 'or pro'i.
esaemen I*hirdJ o' 8n'air Compeiion [43 aes Fusi'icaion 'or
oP as:
• Proecion o' an individua+)s ineres in persona+ di,ni& and
auonom&
•ecurin, 'or p+aini''s he commercia+ va+ue o' heir 'ame
• Prevenin, he unDus enrichmen o' ohers see>in, o appropriae
he commercia+ va+ue o' p+aini'')s 'ame 'or hemse+ves
• Prevenin, harm'u+ or ecessive commercia+ use ha ma& di+ue
he va+ue o' a person)s ideni&
• A''ordin, proecion a,ains 'a+se su,,esions or endorsemen or
sponsorship
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I6 v. AP
• International 6ew ervice v. Associate1 Press, U+ +up1 (t1, 6>68 4p162; 4/ilbe"t5s 69
o Background : !9 pu++ed non;cop&ri,hed news sories 'rom AP)s ear+& bu++eins
on 2as Coas ransmied hem o Wes Coas and used same 'acs 'or is sorieso he derimen o' AP)s pro'i. AP was ependin, a++ o' he mone& and
manpower o acHuire he 'acs.o Holding : Cour ,raned an inDuncion on !9 usin, AP)s news uni+ is
commercia+ va+ue as news had passed awa&. Cour he+d ha ransmiin, he 'acs'rom one coas o anoher was un'air compeiion and enDoins !9 'romconinuin, he pracice
AP had sued on wo ,rounds: I1J proper& ri,hs vio+aion and I#J un'air
business compeiion
• Cour ru+ed here was no a proper& vio+aion bc AP)s news
sories weren) cop&ri,hed and !9 on+& used he !acts 'rom AP)ssories I'acs canno be cop&ri,h on+& how he&)re epressed can be cop&ri,hedJ
• Cour ru+ed !9 was en,a,in, in un'air business compeiion b& pirain, AP)s wor> produc which process amouned o anunauhoried iner'erence wih he norma+ operaions o' AP)s business a he poin a which AP is abou o reap is pro'i in order o diver ha pro'i o !9.
o u+e: Ino un!air competitionJ: When he ri,hs o' one compeior are +iab+e o
con'+ic wih he oher each par& is under a du& o conduc is own business soas no o un'air+& or unnecessari+& inDure he oher.
• 4uasi*property: Cour ca++s he 'acs AP)s ,aherin, and !9 is a>in, Huasi;proper&@
Iwork product basica++& proper& as a,ains AP bu no as a,ains ever&oneJ
o As a,ains he pub+ic !9 and AP have no proper& ri,h. As a,ains each oher
however !9 and AP have a 5uasi;proper& ri,h because news has an echan,eva+ue o one who can misappropriae i Ii.e. he 'acs o' he news sories are hemaeria+ 'rom which !9 and AP are see>in, o pro'i a he same ime and in hesame 'ie+dJ. *he issue here is !9 and AP)s ri,hs as a,ains each oher.
o Cour su,,ess he harm done o he AP was on+& acionab+e in his case o he
een ha he !9 reaps he 'ruis o' AP)s +abor a paria+ ec+usion o' AP:ooed in he +abor heor& and unDus enrichmen.
• o+mes)s Concurrence: 8n'air Compeiion +i>e *rademar>
o o+mes undersands un'air compeiion his wa&: when &our business operaion
inDures anoher hrou,h misrepresenaion where &ou a>e credi 'or he oher)swor> since such misrepresenaion wor>s o inDure repuaion. 6oo>s +i>erademar> +aw.
o o+mes sa&s ha !9)s pracice imp+ied+& denies AP credi 'or co++ecin, he 'acs
and ha his and on+& his misrepresenaion consiues he un'air compeiionhere.
o o+mes hin>s eiher reHuirin, ha !9 credi AP 'or heir sources or prevenin,
!9 'rom pub+ishin, uni+ 6 hours a'er AP wou+d be su''icien remed&
• Brandeis)s $issen: /ree peech
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o Brandeis does no wish o reco,nie an& un'air compeiion +aw aside 'rom wha
'o++ows 'rom 'raud and assau+ +aws and neiher 'raud nor assau+ occurred here.o e probab+& does no wan o resric 'reedom o' he press and 'ree speech
o ence we have con#lict bet$een c"eatin li!ite' !onopolies an' #i"st
a!en'!ent "ihts
o Con'+ic is beween he ,enera+ pro;compeiion princip+e embodied in heherman Ac and cop&ri,h princip+e Iani;compeiionJ
6o,ica+ erapo+aion: *here shou+dn) be such hin, as a common;+aw
ru+e o' un'air compeiion bc cours are i++;eHuipped o deermine wha heecepions o he pro;compeiion princip+e shou+d be
!.e. Con,ress in he Cop&ri,h Ac ,ave no indicaion ha i waned o
epand cop&ri,h proecion o he &pe o' Huasi;proper&@ Iwor> producJ invo+ved in his case
• esemb+es Ueeb+e v. ic>erin,i++ which invo+ved he ri,h o pursue &our +ive+ihood
o Bu 'or Ueeb+e on+& ma+icious iner'erence su''iced 'or he or
o *wo di''erences beween Ueeb+e and his case:
ere he iner'erence)s wasn) ma+icious ere he 'acs remained use'u+Tperhaps more use'u+ since more readers
Twhereas in Ueeb+e nobod& ,o he duc>sK indeed he iner'erin, personnever ried o ,e he duc>s.
• !.e. "ee#le seems +i>e an eas& case bc he resu+ o' ic>erin,i++)s
acions were ha no one ,o he duc>s Ii.e. resu+ was wea+hminimiaionJK wea+h minimiaion)s no an issue here peop+e
still ,o he newsK he di''erence was he& ,o i 'rom !9 raherhan AP
7eist
• 7eist P!blications$ Inc. v. 4!ral "ele#hone ervice Com#any$ Inc., U+ +up1 (t1, 6>>6
4+;6 4/ilbe"t5s 69
o Background : A ceri'ied pub+ic ui+i& wih monopo+& 'ranchise ura+ provides
e+ephone service and disribues e+ephone direcor& 'or no cos. ura+ assi,nscusomers heir number. A pub+ishin, compan& /eis creaes area;widee+ephone direcories b& pa&in, e+ephone companies 'or heir whie pa,e +isin,sand disribues hem 'or no cos. Boh direcories inc+ude &e++ow pa,es and ura+and /eis compee vi,orous+& 'or adverisin,. ura+ bein, he on+& ho+d;ou /eisused ura+)s whie pa,e +isin,s wihou consen veri'&in, and supp+emenin, hedaaK despie his /eis)s and ura+)s direcories shared man& idenica+ +isin,sand /eis)s inc+uded 'our 'iciious ones ha ura+ creaed o deec cop&in,.
o Holding : *he phone boo>)s whie pa,es +isin,s were no cop&ri,hab+e. *he
arran,emen was no ori,ina+ IDus +i>e ever& oher phone boo>J and he namesand numbers are Dus 'acs ha can) be proeced. o C he+d 'or /eis.
o u+e: When a wor> is cop&ri,hed on+& hose porions ori,ina+ o he auhor are
proeced.o u+e: A 'acua+ compi+aion is e+i,ib+e 'or cop&ri,h i' i 'eaures an ori,ina+
se+ecion or arran,emen o' 'acs bu he cop&ri,h is +imied o he paricu+ar
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se+ecion or arran,emenK he cop&ri,h does no eend o he 'acs hemse+vesIsuch 'acs ma& be copied a wi++J.
u+e: *o be proeced he se+ecion or arran,emen o' 'acs mus re'+ec
some minima+ de,ree o' creaivi& or ori,ina+i&. !.e. he se+ecion andarran,emen o' 'acs canno be so mechanica+ or rouine so as o reHuire
no creaivi& whasoever.• /acs and cop&ri,h I+imiin, he een o' cop&ri,h proecionJ:
o T$o p"opositions:
Facts a"e not cop%"ihtable1 No one !a% clai! o"iinalit% to #acts1
(o!pilations o# #acts ene"all% a"e cop%"ihtable, so lon as the%
#eatu"e an o"iinal selection o" a""ane!ent
o *o Hua+i'& 'or ori,ina+i& wor> mus be independen+& creaed b& he auhor and
mus conain so!e 'e"ee o# c"eati&it%.o Cour re'uses o adop he sweat o! te #row docrine: 6abor heor& docrine ha
sa&s compi+ers own heir 'acs as reward because he& did he +e,wor> o ,ehem and ha 'uure compi+ers mus +i>ewise sar 'rom scrach in compi+in,
'acs Iidea o' he docrine is ha i encoura,es peop+e o ,o ou and wor>J Cies +)S as proo' ha he +abor heor& shou+d no be app+ied o cop&ri,h
+aw Iun'air compeiion is no a par o' cop&ri,h +awJ o ,arner
cop&ri,h proecion &ou mus no on+& +abor &ou mus a+so epress&ourse+' in some uniHue individua+ied manner
Fusi'icaion: he purpose o' cop&ri,h is no o reward +abor bu o
encoura,e ori,ina+ creaion.o Po+ic& ,oa+: Cour wans o discoura,e peop+e 'rom usin, he monopo+& he& are
a''orded b& cop&ri,h o bui+d oher bi,,er monopo+ies. 2vidence in his casesu,,esed ha ura+ was r&in, o epand is re,u+aed e+ephone s&semmonopo+& ino a Inon;re,u+aedJ compeiive mar>e Iphone directoriesJ
• $onahue: Cour sa&s ori,ina+i&@ is a consiuiona+ reHuiremen o ,ain cop&ri,h
proecion Ibc Consiuion sa&s auhor@ which connoes ori,ina+i&Jbu Con,resscou+d si++ proec wor>s +i>e ura+)s whie pa,es +isin, under he Commerce C+ause
• !mporan noe: Ciin, &our source proecs &ou 'rom p+a,iarism bu no 'rom cop&ri,h
in'rin,emen
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TOPI( II: TRN+FER OF O*NER+.IP
OF PROPERTY
1 (on&e%ancin
The +tatute o# F"au's
The (on&e%ancin P"ocess To'a%
• Conrac: Be,ins wih conrac o se++ and bu&
o !n 8 conrac and i+e end o be wo di''eren hin,sK &ou can have conrac bu
no i+e i' i+e hasn) &e been conve&edo e++er can usua++& 'orce bu&er o a>e i+e i' here)s a conrac 'or he sa+e o' ha
proper& Iin a sense hen bu&er can be said o be eHuiab+e owner@ as a,ains hese++erJ
• *i+e insurance or assurance: %endor see>s o insure or assure his i+e o bu&er)s +ender
• one&Tmor,a,ees: Purchaser obains 'inancin, possib+& wih mor,a,e
o 8su. person bu&in, +and doesn) have mone& a he ime o' he conrac so is
,iven ime a'er conrac o ,o secure he 'unds
• $eed: $eed passes handsK 'inancin, docs and i+e assurance or insurance docs echan,ed
o On da& o' conve&ance bu&er ,es acua+ deed Ipiece o' paperJ
o A conve&ance under he / is en'orceab+e once he deed is de+ivered
The +HF Reui"e!ents 4all !ust be in $"itin• 9ame o' ,ranor and ,ranee
• $escripion
• Words o' conve&ance
• i,naure in wriin,
o ea+ esaes no pu in wriin, and si,ned b& paries have e''ec o' estate at will
on+&o a>es conve&ees enans a wi++ a,ains he previous i+eho+der which is beer
han a respasser Ienan a wi++ can be hrown o'' +and bu is no +iab+e 'ordama,es as a respasser wou+d beJK so / provides some proecion 'or conve&eere: a ransacion no in wriin,
*he"e Does the +tatute +a% That3
• eHuiremens are on+& imp+ici
o 9ame o' ,ranor and ,ranee:
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o Words o' conve&ance: (ou can) creae an esae wihou a conve&ance Icreain,
an esae b& de'iniion invo+ves a conve&ance o anoher personJo i,naure in wriin,: Purpose o' / is o provide solid evidence Iwe don) wan o
Dus re+& on ora+ evidence bc I1J peop+e +ie and I#J peop+e ,e deai+s wron,J
• 9oncomp+iance creaes esaes a wi++@ raher han voidin, he deed which wor>s o
Huie i+es
Met8ger
• Met8ger v. Miller , U+ Dist1 (t1 #o" No(al, 6>2 4p19@ 4/ilbe"t5s ;>
o Background : e,er conends ha his moher so+d him he proper& 'or
consideraion so A+ien Proper& Cusodian canno a>e i. oher sen series o'+eer o e,erK one had descripion o' proper& one had words o' conve&anceec.
o Holding : Combinaion o' +eers wrien o e,er b& his moher Iprevious
owner o' proper&J was su''icien under / o ma>e conve&ance o e,er.o u+e: *he necessar& wriin, o ,e ou o' o/ does no have o be a 'orma+
conrac bu can consis o' severa+ documens a>en o,eher so +on, as hewriin,s show a meein, o' he minds su''icien o creae a conrac.
$ocumens oher han deeds can conve& +andThere +eers
• Which +eer in $et2ger did he Dob?
o 6eers did he Dob co++ecive+& conve&ancin, insrumen can be di''eren papers
• *he +essons o' $et2ger
o 9ecessi& o' +ii,aion
o *he Ca+i'ornia saue
CA saue a++owed separae shees and didn) reHuirin, echnica+ +an,ua,e
Ipre& +oose abou wha CA wi++ accep as words o' conve&anceJ
o *he posiion o' he cusodian A+ien Proper& Cusodian was rusee bu here was hu,e conrovers& wih
ha o''ice I*eapo $ome canda+Jo 2ven i' no conve&ance here)s an ep+ici promise and ,ood case 'or re+iance as
e,er had moved 'rom !$ based on his moher)s promise
Hayes
-acA"oun'
• Hayes v. Hayes, N +up1 (t1, 6>6; 4p1@2 4/ilbe"t5s ;>
o Background : /aher made paro+ ,i' o son. on made improvemens bou,h
adDoinin, proper&. When son passed awa& 'aher ries o conve& i+e o his,randsons b& anoher son and brin,s an acion in eDecmen o' he widow.
o +ssue: Was he paro+ ,i' eecued so as o a>e he paro+ ,i' ou o' he /?
o Holding : Because i wou+d be a mani'es inDusice@ o eDec widow he paro+ ,i'
is a>en ou o' he / Ihe+d o be an eecued@ paro+ ,i'Jo u+e: *o a>e a paro+ ,i' ou o' he aue o' /rauds here mus be accepance
and per'ormance consiuin, derimena+ re+iance.
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*h% $oul' it be !ani#est ined he +and and here was re+ianceJ
• uppose he sui occurred in 1"-?
• Wha more is bein, reHuired?
o Cour ma& a>e paro+ ,i' ou o' / b& eiher I1J par per'ormance or I#J esoppe+o Par per'ormance: on oo> possession o' he +and and behaved +i>e a 'ee owner
Iepanded and improved he +andJK 'aher o+d son o pa& his own aes@ B8* mere enr& and possession doesn) indicae wha &pe o' conve&ance
i was *here was 'urher evidence o' par per'ormance: son bu&in, adDacen
parce+s o he +and Iwou+dn) do i' he didn) own he su'' in he midd+eJ bui+din, house marria,e
o 2soppe+: Idoub+e esoppe+ operaes in his caseJ
1. *O is esopped 'rom raisin, / de'ense bc o' derimena+ re+iance
#. *O is esopped 'rom Huesionin, wheher here was an ora+ ,i' o' a 'ee
simp+e bc o' derimena+ re+iance Imani'es inDusice ineHui&J
• eHuires more derimena+ re+iance han he 'irs esoppe+
• Wha is he purpose o' hese reHuiremens?
o Par per'ormance: Provides evidence ha paro+ ,i' was acua++& conve&ance o' a
'ee simp+e ha he hou,h o' himse+' as he rue owner o 2soppe+: Preven he mani'es inDusice@ o' a>in, he +and a'er son an widow
derimena++& re+ied on he paro+ ,i'o 8CC [#;#01 conrased
*h% no a'&e"se possession un'e" N5s 69%ea" statute3
• AP is barred because his was iniia++& a permissive esae a wi++. owever i mi,h havechan,ed o a hosi+e possession under c+aim o' ri,h when he& be,an reain, i as heirown
Met8ger co!pa"e'
• !n $et2ger cour +oo>s a he conve&ance ise+' o deermine wha was conve&ed and
when
• !n Hayes cour +oo>s a wha conve&ee did a!ter he conve&ance o deermine wha was
conve&ed and when
Fo"!alities in Dee's
/ene"al #o"!alities necessa"% in 'ee's
• i,nin, and sea+in,
o an& saes no +on,er reHuire a sea+
o Whereas sea+in, was once no reHuired now in mos saes i is
• Aesaion Isi,nin, b& winessesJ
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• Ac>now+ed,emen Ima>er o' insrumen appearin, be'ore a pub+ic o''icia+ Iusua++& a
noar&J and sain, he insrumen is his 'ree ac and deed@ wih o''icia+ hen recordin,occurrence o' his ceremon& in an appropriae p+ace on he insrumen
• ecia+ o' consideraion
o *hou,h no ,enera++& necessar& pa&men o' consideraion Ieven nomina+
consideraionJ is ,enera++& a ,ood idea o rebu an& poenia+ prob+ems• evenue samps
o an& saes reHuire he imposiion o' documenar& samps on insrumens o'
conve&ance he 'unds 'or which ,o o 'und he sae ,overnmen
Deli&e"% an' Reco"'in
Deli&e"%
• *he de+iver& reHuiremen
o !n order 'or a deed o be e''ecive i mus be de+ivered
o !n 'ete"!inin $hethe" o" not the"e $as 'eli&e"%, intent is the p"e'o!inant#acto"
*he deed does no need o ph&sica++& pass hands
ll that5s "eui"e' #o" 'eli&e"% is an o&e"t !ani#estation o# the
"anto"5s intent that the title pass his mani'esaion mar>s he poin
in he ransacion where he paries) respecive ineress have chan,ed *he inen necessar& o e''ecuae de+iver& is he inen boh o' he ,ranor
and he ,ranee
• !.e. here mus be accepance 'or he conve&ance o be va+id
• Possib+e reasons 'or de+iver& reHuiremen:
o
Provides outward mani!estation o! intentiono Proecs he ,ranor.
o Provides visib+e obDecive evidence.
o Proceeds hisorica++& 'rom +iver& o' seisin.
• Poin where paries) respecive ineress chan,e.
Esc"o$ an' Relation -acAJ
• Delivery in escrow:
o e a de+iver& o a ,ranee subDec o a condiion
raher once de+iver& is made he condiion is deemed o be waived even i' i
c+ear+& was noo owever a ,ranor can ma>e de+iver& o a tird person subDec o a condiion
delivery in escrow
o Wih de+iver& in escrow de+iver& ,enera++& occurs a second de+iver& when
escrow a,en de+ivers deed o ,ranee.
• &elation Back :
o !n some cases when he condiion in a de+iver& in escrow is 'u+'i++ed he deed
wi++ be reaed as a>in, e''ec a he ime o' is ori,ina+ deposi as an escrow
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Euitable 'oct"ine applie' onl% $hen necessa"% to p"e&ent in siuaion: when ,ranor dies a'er de+iver& in escrow
bu b' de+iver& o ,ranee norma++& deah o' ,ranor wou+d operae as
revocaion o' he deed bu wih re+aion bac> deed deemed e''ecive
be'ore ,ranor)s deaho !n re+aion bac> he even ha wou+d void he conve&ance absen he re+aion
bac> mus occur a'er he deposi in escrow and he condiion o' he escrow mushave been u+imae+& 'u+'i++ed
Reco"'in
• ecordin, is no sric+& reHuired 'or he deed)s e''eciveness bu ma& be reHuired 'or is
e''eciveness conra: oher peop+e Ioperaes as i+e assurance mechanismJ
• *hree &pes o' recordin, saues Ia++ reHuire ha person c+aimin, bene'i under saue
have purchased 'or va+uab+e consideraionJ:o &ace:
I6A and 9CJ: As beween successive ,ranees o he same +and priori& isdeermined so+e+& #y wo records !irst . ! doesn) maer i' he& >newabou oher ,ranee or no
• !' neiher records successive ,ranee ,es +and as +on, as purchaser
'or va+uab+e consideraion I! tink Jo 9oice:
I50Vo' saesJ: A subseHuen bona 'ide purchaser IBJ prevai+s over a prior
,ranee who 'ai+s o record IAJ on+& i' he had no actual or constructivenotice o' a prior c+aim a he ime o' he conve&ance.
• NoticeJ not $hat - act!ally Ano$s, but $hat - sho!l19co!l1
ha&e Ano$n b% 46 sea"chin "eco"'in o##ice o" 42 actuall%&isitin the p"ope"t% to see i# an%one else is the"e
• ubseHuen bona 'ide purchaser prevai+s regardless o' wheher
he& record however oher purchasers cou+d 'o++ow and
recordin,)s wha sops his chicaner&o eversa+ o' common;+aw docrine o' 'irs in ime is
sron,er in ri,h@
• Constructive notice: (ou are he+d o have noice o' wha &ou wou+d
discover b& a reasonab+e inHuir& ino he proper& and a reasonab+esearch o' he recordin, saue
o ace;9oice:
I50Vo' saesJ: !n order 'or a subseHuen purchaser o win he mus #ot be wihou noice and win he race o record
eso+ves anoma+& in noice saue b& sa&in, &ou can) have i+e un+ess
&ou Huie i+e b& recordin,
• Prob+ems in recordin,:
Micklethwait
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• Micklethwait v. 7!lton, O. +(, 6>9 4p17@ 4/ilbe"t5s ;99
o Background : is an o+d woman who made a deed o' conve&ance o her dau,her
o be he+d in escrow. er son in +aw hen acHuired he deed and recorded i henused i o receive a +oan and disappeared. *he +oan was breached and crediorsI/J now come o a>e proper&. /u+on is he superinenden who oversees ban>
+iHuidaion.o Holding : *he deed because i was acua++& recorded and hen re+ied upon b& /
canno be reraced even hou,h i was misa>en+& 'i+ed.o &easoning : Boh and / innocen paries bu made o su''er bc I1J he rea+
croo> son;in;+aw can) be 'ound and I#J is more b+ameworh& here becauseher poor e''ors o >eep he deed 'rom bein, 'i+ed consiued cu+pab+ene,+i,ence.@ !' he Cour ru+ed a,ains / man& innocen deposiors in he ban>wou+d have o bear he brun o' his +oss.
o u+e: !' an escrow deed wron,'u++& recorded be'ore condiions are me is re+ied
upon b& a hird person he iniia+ ,ranor is esopped 'rom c+aimin, i is no ava+id deed.
• App+icaion o' he recordin, ac?o ecordin, ac doesn) app+& bc here)s no subseHuen purchaser.
o owever ho+din, o' he case deems he recordin, s&sem use'u+ 'or noi'&in,
even non;purchasers bc cour wans o preserve is ine,ri& Po+ic& o' recordin, saue is o esab+ish a re+iab+e record on which he
pub+ic can re+& cour hus ho+ds 'or / who relied on he recordin, ac in
eendin, credi
• *hat i# a"shall ha' #o"e' the 'ee'3
o F $oul' ha&e lost, e&en $ith "eliance, bHc con&e%ance $oul' ha&e been &oi'
4e&en "eco"'in act can5t a'' !uch $eiht to &ali'it% o# #o"e' 'ee'
•
Wha more cou+d he ban> have done?o Ban> cou+d have visied he house >noc>ed on he door and 'ound . Bu
ma&be 6ouise wou+d answer which mi,h con'use hin,s. a&be a'er a++ here)sconspirac& amon, 6ouise her husband and even .
o *his c+aim o' he crediors havin, consrucive noice is counered b& he
recordin, s&sem which said ha he dau,her and son in +aw rea++& were he i+eho+ders o' he proper&.
• Wha more cou+d have done?
o 9o pu he deed in escrow Ideed in escrow is sor o' +i>e a b+an> chec>J
o eep he deed sa'e and no e++ 6eon.
o 8sed a pro'essiona+ escrow a,eno ade a wi++ or rus or iner vivos conve&ance
Hoo1
• Hoo1 v. -ebster , NY (t1 o# ppeals, 6>@ 4p178 4/ilbe"t5s ;9;
o Background : / conve&ed proper& b& deed in escrow o her broher in +aw IWJ
in 1-1 Ideed no de+ivered in 1-1 bc was o be he+d in escrow uni+ her deahJ.
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he hen conve&ed he same proper& o her broher IWJ in 1-#" who promp+&recorded. / dies in 1- 'u+'i++in, condiion o' escrow o' 'irs deed which ishen ,iven o W. Broher in +aw IWJ sues in 1- o annu+ he subseHuendeed. Condiion o' escrow o' 'irs deed was )s deah
9( had a racenoice saue under saue so subseHuen ,ranees who
oo> in ,ood 'aih and recorded 'irs shou+d have won.o Holding : $ocrine o' re+aion bac> is app+ied so ha W can prevai+ on he prior
deed Ii.e. c+aim he recorded 'irsJ even hou,h he was no 'irs o acua++& recordo u+e: !' a deed was ,iven and he+d in escrow and subseHuen purchasers bu& and
record anoher deed be'ore he escrow condiions are 'u+'i++ed hen Ii' eHui&reHuiresJ prior ,ranee can re+ae his recordin, bac> o he dae ha he deed was,iven o he escrow a,en so ha he wi++ prevai+ on he prior deed.
• Fus +i>e $ickletwait ?
o $onahue hin>s his case shou+d be ana+o,ied o ic>+ehwai and ha W were
an innocen hird par& in re+aion o he recordin, ac so W shou+d have he burden o' provin, ha he docrine o' re+aion bac> mus be app+ied o avoid
ineHui&o The (ou"t 'i' not ha&e to appl% the 'oct"ine o# "elation bacA1 It is an
euitable clai!, an' so onl% applicable $hen
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o We)re esed on oda&)s s&sem so &ou needn) >now oumoded su'' inc+udin,
he 'ee ai+
/"antin &s1 De&isin
• A devise becomes e''ecive on+& upon he deah o' he devisee
o *hus i' $ wries wi++ ha ,ives A somehin, A on+& has an epecaion@ no a+e,a+ ineres@ as +on, as $ +ives
• We don) a+> abou +e,a+ heirs ca++ed presumpive heirs@ i++ person dies because:
o *he& ,e nohin, uni+ person dies.
o Person cou+d ma>e wi++ be'ore hen.
o *he& cou+d die be'ore hen
• $erger : Common;+aw docrine ha said when individua+ ,es +i'e esae a same ime
receives reversion he +i'e esae mer,es wih he reversion o creae a 'ee simp+e abso+ue
P"esent Inte"ests
Desc"ibin Estate an' Inte"ests
• Be,ins when?
o Presen
o /uure Iin he ,ranor Ireversion possibi+i& o' reverer ri,h o' enr&J in hird
par& Iremainder eecuor& ineresJJ
• ow +on,?
o /reeho+d I'ee +i'eJ
o 9on;'reeho+d Ierm o' &ears periodic Ie.,. monh;o;monhJ a wi++ a
su''eranceJ
•
ow inheried?o imp+e
o *ai+ Ion+& o +inea+ descendansJ
• ubDec o conin,encies?
o 9o Iabso+ue usua++& app+ied on+& o 'eesK vesed
App+ied on+& o 'uure ineress and denies condiions preceden oher han
he epiraion o' he precedin, esaeIsJo (es IsubDec o a condiion or specia+ +imiaionK conin,enJ
App+ied on+& o 'uure ineress and indicaes he presence o' condiionIsJ
preceden
• 2.,.: Presen Iwhen be,insJ esae Ino enanc&J in 'ee I+en,hJ simp+e I&pe o'
inherianceJ abso+ue Ino conin,enc&J
P"esent Estates: F"eehol' Inte"ests
• ee simple: *o A and his heirs@
o 6eas resriced esaeK cou+d endure 'orever I+on,es duraionJ
/ree+& devisab+e a+ienab+e inheriab+e
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On+& upon deah o' presen ho+der inesae and wih no heirs does he
esae rever bac> o he ,overnmen Ihus poenia++& in'inie duraionJ Euanum@ o' an esae = duraion
o an' his hei"sJ a"e $o"'s o# li!itation, not $o"'s o# pu"chase
-or1s o% limitation: I'enti#% the t%pe o# estate bein c"eate'
-or1s o% #!rchase: I'enti#% the pe"son in $ho! the estate is beinc"eate'
o 8nspeci'ied ,rans o A@ are considered in 'ee simp+e
o P"oble!: < A and his heirs
A has he 'ee heirs have an epecanc& < has nohin,
.ei"s ha&e nothing in this "antK the%5"e p"esu!pti&e
• ee Tail : *o A and he heirs o' his bod&@
o 2nds when enan +ac>s +inea+ descendans
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• &emainder : /uure ineres ,raned o someone oher han he ,ranor o a>e e''ec a'er
he epiraion o' some 'uure ineres Ie.,. A ,rans 'ee o B and he heirs o' his bod&remainder o C and his heirsK B)s +ine dies ouK esae ,oes o C)s +ineJ
De#easible Fees 4Fee +i!ple Dete"!inable Fee +i!ple on a (on'ition +ubseuent
• De!easi#le !ee: /ee subDec o a resricion Ino abso+ueJ• ee simple determina#le Iso +on, asZ uni+Z@ durin,Z@ provided ha@J: /ee
simp+e ha automatically comes o an end when a saed even occurs or 'ai+s o occur o Not sub does he ,ran conain words ha indicae auomaic
epiraion?@o !' &es 'sdK i' no 'scs
• ee simple su#%ect to an e(ecutory limitation: /ee ha passes o a hird person when a
sae even occurso ade possib+e b& he aue o' 8ses
torke
• torke v. Penn M!t!al :i%e Ins!rance Co, IL +(, 6>;9 4p1> 4/ilbe"t5s 82
o Background : R)s predecessors so+d some pariioned +and wih a deed wih a
covenan ha said ha ,ranee and his heirs wou+d bui+d no sa+oon and a++ow no+iHuor o be so+d on he premises and ha in he case o' breach@ he premiseswou+d immediae+&@ rever o he ,ranors. a+oon was bui+ on he +and
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o Holding : *he +an,ua,e was ambi,uous and conains no ri,h o' re;enr& so he
cour consrues i as a 'ee on a condiion subseHuen. *he deed a+so conains nori,h o' re;enr& and he cour wi++ no creae a ri,h o' enr& i' one is nospeci'ied in he deed so L ,es o >eep he +and.
o u+e: !' ambi,uous +an,ua,e is used in p+acin, a resricion on a deed he cour
wi++ consrue he +an,ua,e as creain, a 'ee on a condiion subseHuen raher hana 'ee simp+e deerminab+e.
o u+e: Cour wi++ no creae a ri,h o' enr& i' one is no speci'ied in he deed.
• Wh& did he cour ho+d as i did?
o 2soppe+ app+ies because he no booe@ condiion was waived 'or ohers
Idoctrine o! canged conditionsJ A+so L bou,h proper& a'er sa+oon had been bui+ re+&in, on 'ac ha
booe was seemin,+& a++owedo 6aches app+ies bc or>e >new abou he booe 'or a whi+e be'ore obDecin,
Ihou,h &ou probab+& can) app+& +aches whi+e he o6 runsJ 2ven i' G had reained ri,h o' enr& probab+& si++ wou+d have been
esopped bc o' +acheso 2ven i' G had reained ri,h o' enr& and no +aches L wou+d si++ win bc o6 on
G)s cause o' acion epired
• Wha conseHuences i' 'ee simp+e deerminab+e?
o R wins because esae auomaica++& revered bac> o G when sa+oon bui+
• Wha conseHuences i' 'ee simp+e on a condiion subseHuen wo ri,h o' enr&?
o L wins because 'scs reHuires ,ranor o eercise ri,h o' enr& o rea>e
possession so wo ri,h o' enr& G can) deermine L)s 'ee in he proper&
• Wh& ho+d 'ee simp+e on a condiion subseHuen?
o (ou"t p"e#e"s absolute an' &este' inte"ests, as the% i&e lan'o$ne"s !o"e
cont"ol1o e his
one ha were so+e+& he +e'overs o' he Women)s *emperance ovemen.
Futu"e Inte"ests
• REE-ER : !' A)s remainder is an&hin, e+se han 'ee simp+e abso+ue here wi++
necessari+& be oher 'uure ineress 'o++owin, a'er ')s 'uure ineres
Re!ain'e"s &s1 Eecuto"% Inte"ests• &emainder : A 'uure ineres which can become possessor& on+& upon he natu"al
epi"ation o' a prior possessor& ineres creaed b& he same insrumeno uccessive remainders are possib+e
o emainder su#%ect to open I su#%ect to partial divestment J
!n a remainder ,iven o A)s heirs A)s 'irs chi+d)s remainder is a+wa&s
subDec o open since he +aw presumes ha A re,ard+ess o' his a,e seor ph&sica+ condiion is a+wa&s capab+e o' havin, chi+dren
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o (ou cannot have a remainder 'o++owin, a 'ee
• E(ecutory interest : An& 'uure ineres creaed in an& par& oher han he ,ranor or
devisor ha cannot a>e e''ec upon epiraion o' he precedin, esaeK an& ineres hacuts sho"t anoher ineres Iopposie o' remainderJ
o *wo &pes:
Springing : prin,s ou o' he ,ranor a a dae subseHuen o he ,ranin,o' he ineres divesin, he ,ranor
Si!ting : $ivess a prior esae Ino in ,ranorJ ha had no naura++&
erminaed
• 2.,. < o A and his heirs bu i' he premises are ever used 'or
oher han residenia+ purposes hen o B and his heirs.o A has a 'ee simp+e subDec o an eecuor& +imiaion
o B has a shi'in, ineres in 'ee simp+e in B
• Class gi!ts:
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%esed remainder is descendib+e devisab+e and a+ienab+e even hou,h i)s
no vesed in possession
• Contingent remainder : ome preceden condiion in addiion o he epiraion o' he prior
esaes mus be 'u+'i++ed in order 'or he remainder o become possessor&o Once he condiion is me he remainder is said o vest in he person o whom he
ineres wi++ now pass b& ri,ho (ontinent "e!ain'e"s a"e al$a%s #ollo$e' b% a &este' inte"est, a "e&e"sion
bein i!plie' i# no othe" &este' inte"est is state'
o Conin,en remainders are no 'scs bc esae does no become possessor& uni+
he condiion occurso 7est : *o ,ive an abso+ue ri,h o i+e or ownership inc+udin, rea+ proper& and
pension ri,hs.o 7ested : e'errin, o havin, an abso+ue ri,h or i+e when previous+& he ho+der
o' he ri,h or i+e on+& had an epecaion. 2amp+e: a'er #0 &ears o'emp+o&men 6arr& 6o&a+Qs pension ri,hs are now vesed
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$esrucion o' a conin,en remainder b& merger : can be desro&ed i'
esae precedin, is mer,ed ino anoher +ar,er esae. o A 'or +i'eremainder o A)s 'irs son 'or +i'e i' he reaches #1 remainder o B and hisheirs.@ A conve&s +i'e esae o B when A)s son is 1-. B has wo successiveesaes I+i'e esae and remainderJ and desro&s A)s remainder
%esed remainders oa++& eemp 'rom desrucabi+i& and mer,er ru+es Destructa#ility rule ,enera++&: Conin,en remainders are desro&ed upon
he epiraion o' he precedin, Isupporin,J vesed or possessor& esae Ii'he conin,en condiion has no been 'u+'i++ed which i wi++ b& de'iniionno have because oherwise he ineres wi++ have vesedJ. 2piraion ma&occur naura++& b& 'or'eiure or b& mer,er i' he ho+din, o' he supporin,esae acHuires a succeedin, vesed esae a some ime oher han he imewhich he supporin, and conin,en ineres were creaed
*here was a pre'erence a common +aw 'or ear+& vesin,
• Addiiona+ P"oble!s re: vesed vs. conin,en remainders:
o P"oble!: < I+.e.J A IrdrJ B i' she reaches #1 i' no Irdr.J CK A dies b' B
reaches #1. *his is a condiion preceden@ IB has o reach #1 b' ,ein, esaeJ
B and C #ot have conin,en remainders
• B has conin,en remainder in 'ee simp+e on a condiion
subseHuen Icondiioned upon her reachin, #1J
• C has conin,en remainder in 'ee simp+e condiioned upon B
'ai+in, o reach #1
• < has reversion Ibecomes e''ecive on+& i' A dies b' B reaches #1J
8nc+ear wheher B has o reach #1 b' A)s deah
•Presumpion o' ear+& vesin, wou+d sa& &es
• A modern +aw when i)s unc+ear b& when he chi+d mus reach #