smythe property fall 2012

8/9/2019 Smythe Property Fall 2012

1/16

Property outline

I. Dominant Legal Doctrines in the United StatesA. Consequentialist (teleological, utilitarian)

. !o recogni"e the consequences o# certain decisions, and select the $udgement that

ma%imi"es the outcome&. 'ightsased (deontological)

. !o *indicate #undamental rights

II. AcquisitionA. &y Disco*ery

. Case+ ohnson *. -Intosh

a) acts

() Plainti## ohnson ought title to a piece o# land #rom a /ati*e Americanchie#.

(0) !he chie# 1as *ested 1ith the po1er to trans#er the title to the land y the

tries he represented.

(2) De#endant -Intosh ought the land #rom the United States go*ernment.(3) !he go*ernment had the right to sell the land #rom a land grant #rom the

state o# 4irginia.

) Issue() 5hether the /ati*e Americans should ha*e superior title ecause they

1ere #irst. 6r i# the 7uropean nations, 1hen they disco*ered the ne1 1orld

acquired superior right to the land.c) 8olding

() !he rule is nonsense, ut 1ithout #inding #or the de#endant, a great deal o#

property rights 1ould e called into question and the 1hole thing 1ould ecome

a mess. 5ith regrets, the court #inds in #a*or o# -Intosh.

d) 'ule() 6nly applicale to /ati*e American tries, their rights to lands they ha*e

can ee%tinguishedy the disco*ery o# them y european nations.

0. Doctrine o# Disco*ery

a) !he right o# disco*ery e%tends to all european po1ers that disco*er ne1 lands

) /ati*es retain some right to occupy the landc) 8o1e*er, the so*ereign po1er, li9e the ritish and then the US, has the right to

e%tinguish the rights o# /ati*es.

() !he rights may e e%tinguished y either sale o# the land,or y simple conquest.

d) Underlying policy is to create certainty in property rights

&. &y Capture

. Case+ Pierson *. Posta) acts

() Post hunted a #o% o*er uno1ned land.

(0) Pierson, 9no1ing that Post 1as hunting the #o%, 9illed itand too9 it.

(2) Post claims the #o% as his ecause he 1as in pursuit


2/16

(3) Pierson claims the #o% ecause he 1as the one to 9ill it.

) Issue

() 5hether the hunt o# a 1ild animal *ests title in the pursuer.c) 8olding

() I/ the case o# 1ild animals title is not *ested until there is possession.

Pursuit o# the animal is no possession.d) 'ule

() A hunter must either 9ill or trap a 1ild animal to possess it, and therey

acquire title to it.0. Case+ :hen *. 'ich

a) acts

() 5halers hunting #inac9 1hales typically cannot ta9e immediate

possession (dominion and control) o# the 1hales they hunt upon 9illing the1hale.

(0) !he implement used, theomlancelea*es a distincti*e rand on the

1hale, identi#ying it to others.

(2) !he 1hale typically sin9s, to #loat ac9 up to the sur#ace 2 days later.(3) 5hen #ound y locals on the shore, custom is to come and tell the 1halers

in return #or a #inders #ee.

(;) Plainti## :hen #ollo1ed this general custom. Shot the 1hale, and 1aited#or it to e #ound again so that he, and his cre1, could collect on the 1hale.

(


3/16

d) An o1ner o# e%otic animals retains constructi*e possession o# their e%otic animals

e*en a#ter they escape.

e) Case+ @eele *. 8ic9eringill() acts

(a) Plainti## @eele o1ns a #ancy pond set up #or the purpose o#

capturing large quantities o# irds.() De#endant 8ic9eringill intentionally #rightened the irds a1ay

e#ore they 1ere captured. &ut committed no other o##ense in doing so.

(1as not trespassing or anything li9e that.)(0) Issue

(a) 5hether a person can maliciously inter#ere 1ith the property rights

o# a lando1ner, y scaring the game a1ay e#ore they are caught.

(2) 8olding(a) In #a*or o# @eele. Court reasons that the hunting o# o# duc9s is a

socially producti*e end, and its trade is part o# the economy. 'ecogni"es

ne1 action+ malicious inter#erence 1ith trade.

(3) 'ule(a) /uisance+ an unreasonale inter#erence 1ith the use o# persons

property.i) Pri*ate /uisance+ a nuisance that ad*ersely impacts only a #e1 parties

ii) Pulic /uisance+ A nuisance that impacts a large numer o# parties.

() Pulic /uisances are the area #rom 1hich 1e get "oning

la1s, en*ironmental regulation, local ordinances.3. La1 o# 5aste

C. &y Creation

. Intellectual Propertya) In*entions, trademar9s, ideas in general.

) Intellectual property is so crucial that $urisdictions o*er intellectual property 1asgi*en to congress in the constitution.

c) Patentcopyright la1 is #ederal

() !here are 0 9inds o# patent

(a) Utility

i) :ranted i# the in*ention meets 2 requirements+() /o*el (some ne1 product or process)

(0) -ust yeild utility (ha*e some direct ene#it)

(2) /ono*ious (nono*ious to a person o# ordinary s9ill inthe trade or art.)

() Design

i) :ranted i# the in*entor can sho1 the in*ention is+() /o*el

(0) /ono*ious

(0) A patent, i# granted, lasts #or 0B years #rom the time o# the application.d) Copyright

() Pro*ides protection #or items o# creati*e e%pression

(0) Also protected y #ederal statute


4/16

(2) 6riginally quite narro1 in scope. Protected ONLYmaps, charts, and

oo9s.

(3) As modern technology de*eloped, and commercial *alue has een addedto many other creati*e 1or9s, a 1ider range o# items could e copyrighted.

Including+

(a) Songs() -o*ies

(c) Pictures

(d) Programs(e) Prints

(;) Copyright lasts #or the li#e o# the author =B years.

e) !rademar9

() A symol or randname, some 9ind o# sign or identi#ier o# a company ora product.

(0) Can e registered under #ederal statute.

(2) Can also arise under state common la1

(3) undamentally di##erent #rom other protection(a) 6nly helps companies pro*ide clear in#ormation aout their

products to the mar9et. !here are no tradeo##s (et1een the title holderand the pulic at large) as in copyright and patent.

(;) !hey last as long as they are used.

0. Case+ International /e1s Ser*ice *. Associate Pressa) acts

() !he AP 1as collection in#ormation that I/S apparently did not ha*e aout

current e*ents.

(0) I/S egan to spy on the AP (y riing memer organi"ations andemployees) to gain access to their in#ormation in ad*ance o# its pulication

(2) I/S also too9 ne1s that had een pulished, repac9aged it, and sold it as

its o1n.(3) AP gained an in$unction against I/S #or the inducement o# memers and

employees.

) Issue() Do ne1s gatherers ha*e property in the ne1s a#ter it is pulished

c) 8olding

() ?es. Euestion is not 1hether AP has a right to the

ne1s against the pulic, as the de#ense argument suggests,ut against this de#endant in particular. ?es, AP has a right

to the ne1s it pulishes, and there#ore the in$unction

against I/S Stands. AP has a quasiproperty right to thene1s it has gathered But only while the news is still a

commodity, orHot Newsurther, the right is only

against other inerests in selling the ne1s, its propertyinterest in the ne1s does not prohiit pri*ate indi*iduals

#rom telling other pri*ate indi*iduals aout it.

d) 'ule

2. !rade Secret La1


5/16

a) A ody o# tort la1 that constrains companies #rom certain eha*iors

() In contemplation o# the do1nside o# patents

(a) Patents enter the pulic record() Patents e%pire, a#ter1ords allo1ing imitators

(0) !here#ore, it may e pre#erale to simply 9eep the inno*ation secret

(a) !herey protecting trade secrets eyond the limited period o#patents

3. Case+ Cheney &rothers *. Doris Sil9 Corp.

a) acts() Doris made a pattern at some cost

(0) Cheney rothers copied the pattern #or pro#it (1hether 9no1ing or not)

(2) Doris no1 sues #or damages alleging that the court could protect their

patterns as a 9ind o# copyright #or a short time.) Issue

() 5hether seasonal patterns can e protected as a 9ind o# shortterm

copyrighted 1or9 o# creati*e e%pression

c) 8olding() /o. !here is no such thing as a hal#copyright. !he copyright act 1as set

in place y the legislature, the court has no authority to secondguess 1hat itdoes and does not co*er. International /e1s ser*ice should e construed

narro1ly.

d) 'ule() A person cannot ha*e patent or copyright o*er something li9e a pattern o#

sil9.

(0) A persons rights in creati*e e%pression are generally limited to the

chattels o# their in*ention. Unless they ha*e a patent or copyright, that e%tendsthe title to also include the conceptual content.

;. Case+ Smith *. Chanela) acts

() Smith ma9es a per#ume imitating Chanels per#ume

(0) Smith claims their product is $ust as good as Chanels

(2) Chanel claims it spends considerale resources producing its product

(3) Chanel #urther claims that smiths product e%ploits Chanels good1ill and

pulic trust #or their o1n gain.

) Issue

() Is mere imitation o# a nonpatented product a *iolation o# some propertyinterest the creator may ha*e in the product

c) 8olding

() /o. !he court cites a pulic policy concern. 7*ery copyright and patent

has a natural chilling e##ect in that others 1ill e a#raid to mar9et similarproducts 9no1ing that the products are protected y la1. In this case, there is no

patent or copyright, so the general rule should apply.

d) 'ule() Property rights are limited to the chattels o# your in*ention unless

e%tended y copyright or patent.


6/16


7/16

() Property transaction

(0) 6ne o# the rights included in the undle o# property rights o*erall

(2) Possessory rights not as strong as true title, ut still *ery important ino*erall poperty.

(3) Utili"ed y dry cleaners, mo*ers, *alets, loc9o%es in an9s. (these are all

e%amples o# contractual ailments.)) A #inding is treated as a 9ind o# ailment

() It is a noncontractual or in*oluntary ailment.

(0) !he #act o# a #inding in 1hich a #inder ta9es possession o# the item is theailment

(a) A ailee is someone holding possession o# something they ha*e no

title to, oro1n.

(2) !he duty o# care depends on the nature o# the ailment

(a) I# the ailment is primarily #or the ailees ene#it, then the ailee

is urdened 1ith the highest duty o# care

() I# the ailment is #or the mutual ene#it o# oth parties, only a

normal standard o# care applies.(c) I# the ailment is #or the ene#it o# the ailor, the ailee east the

lo1est duty o# care. This is the kind of care required for a found chattel.

0. @inds o# chattels #ounda) Aandoned chattels

() Aandoned chattels go to the #inder

(0) 6n land o1ned y another, the #inder still gets the chattels(a) !hats a ullshit rule. And I suspect it does not e%tend to o1ners o#

land #or $un9yards. Aandoning things there is precisely the reason the land

is o1ned.) Lost Chattels

() Lost i# the rue o1ner does not 9no1 1here to #ind the chattel. It is anin*oluntary loss o# possession.

(0) It is required y la1 to ma9e some sort o# notice that the true o1ner may

retrie*e their chattels.

(a) !hese are called EST!Y ST!T"TES#

i) inders must deli*er chattels to policeii) !he police may ha*e to ad*ertise #or some period

iii) 5hen no true o1ner is #ound, the chattel is turned o*er to the

#inder and they no1 ha*e good title to the chattel.

i*) At some point the true o1ners right to reclaim the chattel is cut o##

y a statute o# limitations

() !his is all to encourage #inders to come #or1ard 1ith #oundchattels. 'e1arding them 1ith the chattels #or doing so in good

#aith. !he title to the chattel is essentially in*oluntarily trans#erred.

c) -islaid Chattels

() !rue o1ner places chattel some1here intentionally, ut #orgets 1here it is,or to ta9e it 1ith them.

(0) !here is some true o1ner to e concerned 1ith. Usually something li9e a

1allet or something else important.


8/16

(a) !rue o1ner may return to the place 1here the item 1as le#t.

(2) land o1ner gets it sometimes, #inder gets it other times. All ased on the

circumstances o# the #inding. 8as some sort o# good #aith requirement that thechattel 1ill e le#t 1ith the person est situated to #ind and return the chattel to

the true o1ner.

7. &y Ad*erse Possession. 7ntry

a) Ad*erse possessor must pro*e actual entry onto the land.

0. 6pen and /otoriousa) -eans 1hether the manner o# the ad*erse possessorFs occupation 1as so as to put

a reasonale true o1ner on notice that there may e an ad*erse possession claim.

2. Continuos #or the statutory period.

a) 4aries across %)


9/16

(;) Socage economic tenure #or the susistence o# the o*erlords.

(


10/16

() All real property e*entually ecomes alienale. People o1n their land

1ithout need o# #eudal incidents. (though modern ta%ation is essentially the

same idea)I4. Possessory estates

A. !ypically property rights in land that gi*e the o1ner possessory rights. !he 1ord estate is

in re#erence to the medie*al status that used to go 1ith o1ning possessory rights.. !he ee simple Asolute

a) !his is the largest 9ind o# possessory right that a person can o1n in land. It lasts

#rom here to eternity.) At common la1 certain 1ords 1ere required #or a grantor to con*ey a #ee simple.

() !o A1ere the 1ords o# purchase

(0) and his heirs1ere the 1ords o# limitation.

(2) !he indicate the si"e or duration o# As rights in the land

c) In modern la1, 1here there is any amiguity, the presumption is that the grantor

al1ays intends to trans#er a #ee simple.

0. !he ee !aila) -ostly e%tinct no1. 6nly recogni"ed in a #e1 states.

) Its heritaility is limited to direct lineal descendants.

() 5ould include children, grandchildren, so on

(0) Could not include cousins.(2) !he #ee tail o1ner cannot di*ide his #ee tail

(3) !he #ee tail o1ner is precluded #rom selling or gi#ting the tail to anyone

other than a direct descendant.(;) !his #ee tail originated in the medie*al period. !he mechanism is intended

to protect the status o# the #amily line against later descendants 1ho decide to

sell or gi#t the land to someone outside the #amily.

() !here is also a #ee tail male 1here the direct lineal descendant must also

e a male direct lineal descendant.2. A re*ersion

a) Any piece le#t o*er a#ter the grantor has con*eyed some smaller portion o# the

estate

() So 1hen a grantor 1ith a #ee simple grants a #ee tail to his child, i# the

child dies 1ithout heirs, the land re*erts to the grantor(0) I# the grantor grantor is dead at the time 1hen the re*ersion occurs, his

heirs ta9e the land re*erted to him.3. Li#e estates

a) A possessory estate that gi*es the possessor the right to possess the property so

long as they li*e.) I# a grantor grants a li#e estate to a grantee, the grantor has impliedly 9ept the part

that is le#t o*er, the re*ersion.


11/16

$%& I# the grantor decides to gi*e 1hat is le#t o*er a#ter con*eying a li#e estate

to someone else, that is called a remainder

c) !o Aare the 1ords o# purchase

d) so long as he li*esare the 1ords o# limitation

4. utur*ooe Interests

. 'emainder a) 4ests on the natural e%piration o# a pre*ious li#e estate to another grantee.

0. !enancies

a) !hey are typically 1hat you get through a lease.

) !here are those at 1ill, that can e terminated y either party at 1illc) !here are periodic tenancies that are automatically rene1ale unless notice o#

termination is pro*ided.

d) !here are term o# years tenancies 1here there is no automatic rene1al, and nonotice required.

() !his is an estate e*en smaller than a #ee tail or li#e estate.

2. !he 'ule o# primogeniture

a) :enerally restricts inheritance to the oldest male direct lineal descendant.) !hese days, there are intestate statutes, gi*ing spouses a share, and their children

equal shares.

3. De#easale estatesa) Property right con*eyed ut 1ith conditions. As a general matter, a de#easale

estate is an estate that can e terminated upon some e*ent.

) De#easale #ee simples;. ee simple determinale

a) A #ee simple that automatically terminates upon the occurrence o# a stated e*ent.

) or e%ample, i# 6 con*eys &lac9acre to A so long as he remains soer, 6 has

placed a condition on As o1nership. Should A start drin9ing again, the ee is

terminated and re*erts to 6.c) !o create a ee Simple Determinale, the grantor must use language to indicate

that the #ee is the grantees until such time that the conditions are not met. So 1ords

li9e,so long asoruntil

d) 7liminated in cali#ornia

e) 'ight retained y grantor is called possiility o# re*erture.() !his #uture interest is not a large enough interest #or the la1 o# 1aste to

apply.


12/16

a) Li9e a #ee simple determinale, e%cept instead o# re*erting ac9 to the grantor, it

#or#eits to some other grantee.

) !here#ore, the other grantee is granted an e%ecutory interest>. 'ule o# perpetuities

a) 6nly applies to certain 9inds o#

() Contingent remainders(0) 7%ecuti*e interests

(2) 4ested remainder su$ect to open.

) /e*er applies to grantors #uture interest.

c) I# it applied, it destroyed the #uture interest as soon as it 1as created.d) 7ssentially a rule o# logic, requires no real #acts. Un#ortunately the logic can e

con#ounding.

e) So they passed a "niform statutory rule a'ainst (er(etuities

() -odi#ies rule against perpetuities to adopt the1ait and seedoctrine.

(a) It should not *oid #uture interests at the time o# the grant, ut 1ait

GB years to 1ait and see.

G. Sa*ings Clausesa) &ac9stop measure to pre*ent *oid.

() I# the remainder has not *ested in >G years, the property automatically

*ests in so and so.B. !rusts

a) Created either inter *i*os or at death.

) :rantor ecomes !estator and recipient is the !rustee.c) &ene#iciaries are called equitale o1ners o# the trust

d) !rusts can ha*e contingent interests that remain contingent inde#initely.

() 6nly a small numer o# states ha*e allo1ed perpetual trusts(0) &ut it may e a trend

e) !rusts ma9e the rule against perpetuities irrele*ant.. !he Drill

a) irst thing to do is loo9 at the grantee+ Is it a possessory estate or a #uture interest

() I# possessory

(a) 5hat si"e is the estate

i) ee simpleii) Li#e estate

iii) !erm o# years

() Is there a condition on iti) I# yes 1hat does it do

() I# it causes #or#iture ac9 to the grantor it is

determina)le(0) I# it gi*es the granto right o# entry then it is su)*ect to a

condition su)sequent

(2) I# it di*ests the property to some other grantee then it is

su)*ect to an e+ecutory limitation.(0) I# uture interest

(a) 5hat 9ind is it


13/16

i) 'emainder i# it 1ould #ollo1 the natural e%piration o# a possessory

estate.

() 4ested i# it is gi*en to an ascertained person or personsand is not su$ect to a condition precedent.

(0) Contingent i# it is gi*en to an unascertained person or

persons 6' su$ect to a condition precedent.(2) 4ested su$ect to 6pen i# it is gi*en to a class o# persons,

some o# 1hom are ascertained, ut could still gro1.

ii) 7%ecutory i# it 1ould di*est some #uture interest() Shi#ting i# it 1ould di*est another grantee

(0) Springing i# it 1ould di*est the grantor

() 5hat si"e is it

i) ee simple() !o e and his heirs

(0) !o

ii) ee !ail

() And the heirs o# her odyiii) Li#e estate

() or li#ei*) !erm o# years

() or a term o# ten years

(c) Is there a condition on it that could cause di*estmenti) I# ?es

() igure out 1hat the condition does

$a& I# it causes the estate to go ac9 to the grantor

(automatically) etermina)le() I# it gi*es the grantor right o# entry Su)*ect to a

condition su)sequent

(c) I# it gi*es the estate to another grantee Su)*ect to an

e+ecutory interest

ii) I# /o

() ?oure done here

4I. oint Property InterestsA. !enancy in common

. -odern presumption generally #a*ors this 9ind o# $oint property interest.

0. Under a tenancy in common, property o1ners are called tenants in common.2. Under tenancy in common each tenant in common has a separate ut undi*ided

interest in the property.

a) 7ither party can sell or de*ise their interest as they li9e.3. 7ach tenant in common has a right to possess the 1hole.

;. /o speci#ic granting language is required, courts 1ill assume it 1here the

language is amiguous.&. oint tenancy

. Concurrent property interest in 1hich the tenants are in some respects regarded as

though they 1ere a single o1ner.

0. 7ach tenant has a right o# sur*i*orship.


14/16

a) 5hen one o# the $oint tenants dies, that $oint tenants interest ends.

) !he other $oint tenant ta9es the decreased $oint tenants share.

-. At common la1 there 1ere some technical requirements+ "nities

a& Time interest must *est at the same time.

)& Title interest must e created through the same instrument

c& /nterest requires that the si"e o# the shares o# the $oint tenants must e equal.d) 0ossession each $oint tenant must ha*e a right to possess the 1hole.

3. 'equirements are more la% today.Courts sometimes do not require each tenant to

ha*e equal share.

;. Presumption is not in #a*or o# $oint tenancy, there#ore precise language may erequired.

a) !o A and & as $oint tenants, 1ith right o# sur*i*orship, and not as tenants in

common.

) !o A and & as $oint tenants


15/16

(0) Under the ci*il la1 tradition, marital property 1as treated as community

property.

(a) !ypically treated the husand and 1i#e as equal at the outset.() Common la1 states ha*e more or less mo*ed to1ards the ci*il la1

dynamic.

7. 7lecti*e Share Statutes. Sur*i*ing spouse can challenge the spouses 1ill

0. Spouse can get up to hal# the estate.

a) 6r a minimum share o# one third

.Proceeds #rom insurance. /ot a proate asset.

0. Its a contract. So money goes 1here the contract says it goes.

:. 'ight or sur*i*orship. 8ouse not a proate asset 1here there is a $oint tenancy 1ith right o# sur*i*orship.

0. 'ight or sur*i*orship is automatic.

8. Proate Assets

. !hings not $ointly o1ned can e de*ised according to the 1ill.0. 5here the 1ill sayse*erything goes to Athe only property at issue are the

proate assets.

2. !he 1i#e can elect to ta9e hal# o# proate assets under electi*e share statutes.

a) It might #rustrate the spouses intent

) &ut thats the purpose o# the statute any1ay.

4II. 7asementsA. Pri*ate land use controls and the la1s o# ser*itudes

. Ser*itudes are nonpossessory property interests typically held in land.

0. 7asement typically a right to use or per#orm an act on someone elses land.

2. Promises or co*enants regarding the use o# landa) !ypically restrict the use o# land.

) De*elopers 1ould place a restriction on the lots they sell. Li9e a residential use

restriction.c) Ser*itude not to use the land in a certain 1ay.

3. 7asements aout the right to use or per#orm some act on someones land.

a) !he lot that is su$ect to that right o# use is the Ser1iant Tenement.() In other 1ords, it ser*es someone else.

) Apertinent an easement that assigns the right to use the ser*iant tenement to

some other parcel o# land. !he ominant Tenement.

c& ominant Tenement the lot 1ith the right to use an appurtenant easement on a

Ser1iant Tenement.d) /n 'ross does not ha*e any dominant tenement. !he right to use the ser*iant

tenement is not attached to a dominant tenement. &ut to a person in particular.

Classic e%ample is the pulics right to cross each#ront property to reach the each.

It doesnt attach to any particular lot, ut to the pulic in general.

() 'eal Co*enants

(0) 7quitile Ser*itudes oth aout restricting the use o# land.


16/16

(2) /egati*e easements

(a) Courts dont li9e these there#ore there are *ery #e1.

() !hats 1hy there are so many positi*e easements.

&. 8o1 easements are created

. 7%pressly

a) !hrough e%press grant o# easement or reser*ation in a deed. !here must e a1riting that de#ines the easement 1ith some speci#icity.

0. &y prescription

a) Acquired in much the same 1ay as an AP claim.

) Actual entry and e%clusi*e possession not required.c) 6ther1ise the other elements o# AP claims apply.

2. &y implication

a) 'equires that oth ser*iant and dominant tenements 1ere o1ned as one parceloriginally, prior to se*erance, there 1as use o# the ser*iant tenement y the

dominant tenement, and that use must ha*e een apparent and continuous. And at

se*erence the continued use o# the ser*iant and dominant tenement must e

reasonaly necessary.3. &y necessity

a) Ser*iant and dominant tenements 1ere o1ned as one parcel originally, and upon

their se*erance, use o# the ser*iant tenement y the dominant tenement is strictlynecessary. -ost commonly happens 1hen someone has a lot o%ed in y other lots.

It ecomes necessary to cross someone elses lot to get in and out.

;. Euasi7asements

a)7asements y estoppel. Sometimes called an irre*ocale license. It arises 1hen a

person gi*es permission to another person to use their land. !he person 1ith

permission ma9es an in*estment in reliance. !he person 1ho ga*e permission

acquiesces to the in*estment. Under those circumstances, the permision or licenseecomes irre*ocale. It ecomes an easement y estopel. Permission is usually

re*ocale al1ays at the 1ill o# the permissiongi*er. &ut not here 1here there has

een sustantial in*estment in reliance.

smythe property fall 2012

Documents