PROPERTY EF: SYLLABUS: Introductory Material and Units I-III
Numbers in parentheses preceded by S indicate pages in the instructor’s supplemental materials. Numbers preceded by P indicate pages in Property Law: Ownership, Use & Conservation
Introductory Material
A. Course Outline (S1)
B. Information about the Course (S2-9)
C. Information about the Instructor (S9-11)
D. Fajer, Out at First (1988) (S11-12)
Unit I: The Bundle of Sticks
Introduction to a Legal Understanding of Property
Chapter 1: Limits on the Right to Exclude
A. Introduction to the Bundle of Sticks
1.Chapter Introduction (P52-53)
2.State v. Shack (N.J. 1971)(S13-17)
3.Discussion Questions 1-9 (S17-18)
4.Review Problems (S18)
B. Trespass
1. Jacque v. Steenberg Homes (Wisc. 1997) (P54-57)
2. Notes 1-3, 6-7 (P57-59)
3. Discussion Questions 10-13 (S19)
4. Maguire v. Yanke (Idaho 1978) (P59-63)
5. Notes 1-10 (P63-68)
6. Discussion Questions 14-15 (S19)
C.Private Property Open to the Public
1. Brooks v. ChicagoDowns Assn. (7th Cir. 1986) (P79-83)
2. Notes 1-4 (P83-85)
3. N.J. Coalition v. J.M.B. Realty Corp. (N.J. 1994) (P85-92)
4. Notes 1-3 (P92-93)
5. Property Rights & the Constitution: Overview (S20-21)
6. Discussion Questions 16-18 (S21)
D.The Public Trust Doctrine
1.Note: Limits to Privatization (P41)
2.Illinois Central Railroad Co. v. Illinois(U.S. 1892) (P42-45)
3.Notes 1, 3-8 (P45-49)
4.Note 6 (P94)
5.Matthews v. Bay Head Improvement Ass’n (N.J. 1984) (P94-100)
6. Notes 1-6 (P100-02)
7. Discussion Questions 19-20 (S21)
E. Review Problems: The Right to Exclude (S21-22)
Chapter 2. Tort-Like Limitations on the Right to Use
A. Private Nuisance
1.Introductory Note (P128-29)
2.Reasonable Neighbors
a. McCarty v. Natural Carbolic Gas Co. (N.Y. 1907) (P129-33)
b. Notes 1, 4, 5, 7 (P133-38)
c. Prah v. Maretti (Wisc. 1982) (P138-43)
d. Notes 1, 2, 4, 5 (P143-45)
e. Discussion Questions 21-25 (S22-23)
3.The Restatements
a. Carpenter v. Double R Cattle Co. I (Idaho App. 1983) (S23-34)
b. Carpenter v. Double R Cattle Co. II (Idaho 1985) (S34-35)
c. Discussion Questions 26-36 (S36)
B.Public Nuisance
1. Overview of Public Nuisance Law (P145-51)
2. Spur Industries v. Del E. Webb Development Co. (Ariz. 1972) (P158-64)
3. Notes 3-6 (P165-66)
4.ArmoryPark Neighborhood Ass’n v. Episcopal Community Servs. (Ariz. 1985) (S37-43)
5. Discussion Questions 37-45 (S43-44)
C. Protecting Natural Services
1. Introductory Note (P167)
2. Argyelan v. Haviland (Ind. 1982) (P168-74)
3. Notes 1-7 (P174-76)
4. Lateral and Subjacent Support (P176-78)
5. Discussion Question 46-47 (S44)
D. Review Problems: Nuisance (S45)
Unit II: But It’s Mine
Involuntary Transfers of Property
Chapter 3: Eminent Domain
A.Public Use
1.Generally
a.Introductory Note (P178-79)
b.Discussion Questions 48-50 (S46)
2.Federal Standards
a.Kelo v. City of New London(U.S. 2005)(P179-93)
b.Notes 1, 4, 6, 7 (P193, 195-97)
c.Discussion Questions 51-56 (S46)
3.State Standards
a.Facts in Poletown Neighborhood Council v. City of Detroit(S47)
b.Notes 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 (P193-98)
c.Discussion Questions 57-60 (S48)
B.Just Compenssation
1.Proper Measure
a.U.S. v. 564.64 Acres of Land (U.S. 1979) (P198-202)
b.Notes 1-2 (P202-03)
c.Discussion Question 61 (S48)
2.Severance Damages & Setoff s
a.Note 4 (P203-04)
b.L.A.CountyM.T.A. v. Continental Development Auth. (Cal. 1997) (P204-12)
c.Notes 1-4 (P212-13)
d.Discussion Question 62 (S48)
C.Review Problems (S49-50)
Chapter 4: Adverse Possession
A. Introduction
1.Sample Statutes
a.Florida (S51)
b.Pennsylvania (S52)
2.Overview of the Doctrine (S52-53)
3.Introduction to Elements & Related Issues
a.Instructor’s Overview (S53-57)
b.Notes 2-8, 10 (P118-22)
c.Notes 3, 4, 6 (P110-11, 113)
4.Justifications for Adverse Possession (Note 1) (P108-10)
B.Application of the Elements
1.VanValkenburgh v. Lutz (N.Y. 1952) (S58-64)
2.Ray v. Beacon Hudson Mountain Corp. (N.Y. 1996) (P102-05)
3.East Thirteenth St. Homesteader’s Coalition v. Lower East Side Coalition Housing Dev. (N.Y. Supr. 1996) (P105-08)
4.Marengo Cave Co. v. Ross (Ind. 1937) (S64-69)
5.Discussion Questions 63-77 (S69-70)
C.Boundary Disputes
1.Quarles v. Arcega (N.M. App.1992) (P113-18)
2.Notes 1 & 11 (P118, 123)
3.Note on Special Issues (S70)
4.Discussion Questions 78-80 (S71)
5.Dorschner, Nightmare on 68th Street(1992) (S71-81)
6.Discussion Questions 81-82 (S81)
D.Appropriate Scope of the Doctrine
1.Adverse Possession Against the Government
a.Devins v. Borough of Bogota(N.J. 1991) (P123-26)
b.Notes 1-3, 5 (P126-27)
2.Disabilities
a.Note 9 (P122)
b.Pennsylvania Statute (S52)
c.Discussion Question 83 (S81)
3.Policy Implications
a.Squatting (Note 5) (P111-13)
b.Environment (Note 6) (P127-28)
c.Discussion Question 84 (S81)
E. Review Problems (S81-83)
Unit III: Mi Casa Es Su Casa
Division of Property Rights in the Same Piece of Land
Chapter 5. The Shadow of the Past: Estates and Future Interests (Referenced Separately)
Chapter 6. Leased But Not Last: Landlord/Tenant Law
A. Overview
1. Introductory Material (P657-60, 707-08)
2. Some Themes in Landlord-Tenant Law (S84)
3. Florida Residential Landlord-Tenant Statutes (S85-96)
4. The Process of Eviction
a.Notes: Landlord’s Remedies (P712-15)
b. Florida Statutes §§83.56, 83.59, 83.60 (S91-94)
B. Rights and Duties Related to Possession
1.The Tenant’s Right to Possession
a.Note: The Right to Possession (P660-62)
b.Discussion Questions 85-87 (S97)
2. Landlord Right to Self-Help
a.Berg v. Wiley (Minn. 1978) (P715-21)
b.Notes 1-3 (P721-22)
c.Fla. Stat. §83.59 (S)
d.Discussion Questions 88-89 (S97)
3.Landlord Duty to Mitigate Damages
a.Notes: Damages (P723-24)
b.Austin Hill Country Realty v. PalisadesPlaza (Texas 1997) (P724-730)
c.AuroraBusinessPark v. Michael Albert, Inc. (Iowa 1996) (P730-33)
d.Notes 1-3, 5-6 (P733-35)
4.Assignments & Subleases
a.Note: The Right to Assign and Sublet (P700-701)
b.Funkv. Funk (Idaho 1981) (P701-05)
c.Notes 1-3 (P705-07)
d.Note 4 (P734)
C. Habitability Issues
1.The Right to Quiet Enjoyment/Constructive Eviction
a. Barash v. Pennsylvania Terminal Real Estate Co. (N.Y.1970) (P662-666)
b.East Haven Assoc. v. Gurian (N.Y.Civ. Ct. 1970) (P666-69)
c. Notes 1-4 (P669-71)
d. Discussion Question 90 (S97)
2. Implied Warranty of Habitability
a. Introduction (P671-72)
b. Javins v. First National Realty Corp. (D.C. Cir. 1970) (P672-80)
c. Notes 1-10 (P681-88)
d.Florida Statutes §§83.51-52, 83.60, 83.64 (S89-90, 93-94)
e. Discussion Questions 91-94 (S97)
f.Review Problem A (S109)
3. Working With FloridaStatutes & Codes
a.Problem: Tempest at the Teapot (S97-99)
b.Discussion Questions 95-100 (S99)
c. Florida Landlord-Tenant Statutes (S95-96)
d.Dade County Housing Code (S100-08)
D. Review Problems (S109-11)