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Professor Perritt (312) 906-5128 Office: Room 713 |
Tueday & Friday: |
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Spring 2005 |
Room 210 |
PROPERTY
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE CONTENT
Property
is a five-credit one semester course in the law of ownership and control of
tangible and intangible things.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
· John P. Dwyer & Peter
·
Supplementary materials
available on the Website.
www.kentlaw.edu/perritt/courses/property.
SYLLABUS
|
Date |
Subject |
Assignment |
|
18 Jan. |
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY |
D&M, pp. v-viii. Preface D&M, pp. 1-2. Text: Introduction D&M, pp. 3-5. Locke, Second Treatise on Government D&M, pp. 5-10. Radin, Property and Personhood D&M, pp. 10-11. Text: Distributive Justice D&M,
pp. 11-14. D&M, p. 14. Text: Utilitarianism D&M, pp. 15-17. Posner, Economic Analysis of Law D&M, pp. 17-20. Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons Human organ cases Questions for discussion in class |
|
20 Jan. |
INSTITUTIONS TO MANAGE & ALLOCATE RESOURCES: A CASE STUDY |
Comparative property law – Socialism, Squatters, and Privatization (Word version) |
|
21 Jan. |
EVOLUTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS |
D&M, pp. 49-56. Demsetz, Toward a Theory of Property Rights |
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25 Jan. |
COMPARING PROPERTY REGIMES IN DIFFERENT RESOURCES |
D&M, p 56. Text: Whaling D&M, pp. 57-59. Melville, Moby Dick D&M, pp. 59-61. Problem D&M, pp. 60-62. Agnello & Donnelley, Property Rights and Efficiency in the Oyster Industry D&M,
pp. 63-67. Acheson, The Lobster Gangs of |
| 27 Jan | No class | |
|
28 Jan. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: DISCOVERY/CONQUEST |
D&M, pp. 69-76. Johnson & Graham ‘s Lessee v. M ‘Intosh |
|
1 Feb.. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: ADVERSE POSSESSION |
D&M, pp. 76-84. Text: Basic Criteria for Adverse Possession D&M, pp. 84-91. Mannillo v. Gorski D&M, pp. 91-93. Problem |
|
3 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: ACQUISITION OF OTHER RESOURCES—WILD ANIMALS/PETROLEUM |
D&M, pp. 94-99. Pierson v. Post D&M, pp. 99-101. Text: Oil and Natural Gas |
|
4 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: ACQUISITION OF OTHER RESOURCES—WATER/IDEAS |
D&M, p. 102. Text: Water Law D&M, pp. 103-06. Evans v. Merriweather D&M, pp. 106-13. Coffin v. The Left Hand Ditch Co. D&M,
pp. 113-16. D&M, pp. 116-17. Problem |
|
8 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: ACQUISITION OF OTHER RESOURCES—INVENTIONS |
D&M, pp. 128-30. Text: Trade Secret, Copyright, Trademark Optional (this is a heading, not intended to be clickable): Section 102 of title 17, United States Code, defining copyright Section 106 of title 17, United States Code, defining "trespass" on copyright Grokster briefs (this is a heading, not intended to be clickable) Petitioner (IP rights holders) Uniform Trade Secrets Act - excerpts |
|
10 Feb. |
CONTINUED |
D&M, pp. 117-18. Text: Patent Law D&M, pp. 130-32. Problems (ignore questions specifically pertaining to Hughes case, which is not assigned) |
|
11 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: PRESENT INTERESTS—FEE SIMPLE AND LIFE ESTATES |
D&M, pp. 132-39. Text: Historical Background D&M, pp. 140-43. Text: Present Interests D&M, pp. 143-49. Brokaw v. Fairchild D&M, p. 149. Text: Partition D&M, p. 149. Problems D&M, p. 157. Chart |
|
15 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: DEFEASIBLE INTERESTS |
D&M, pp. 149-53. Text: Basic Classification Rules D&M,
pp. 153-55. Fitzgerald v. D&M, pp. 155-56. Problems D&M, pp. 156-58. Problems |
|
17 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: FUTURE INTERESTS |
D&M, pp. 158-67. Text: Basic Classification Rules D&M, pp. 168-71. Problems Amram conveyance that promotes copyright protection of music Lahn conveyance that promotes file sharing Lest you think that future-interest analysis is archaic, consider this 1995 United States Court of Appeals case involving copyright in the entertainment industry |
|
18 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: RULE AGAINST PERPETUITIES |
D&M, pp. 171-76. Text: Explanation of Common Law RAP D&M,
pp. 176-78. D&M, pp. 178-80. Text: Statutory Reforms D&M, pp. 180-82. Text: Summary of RAP D&M, pp. 182-83. Problems Optional: (courtesy of Steve Anderson) Robert Hopperton, Teaching the Rule Against Perpetuities in first year John Makdisi, How to do a Perpetuities Problem, 36 Clev. St. L. Rev
95 Problems and "answers" discussed in class
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22 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: OTHER DOCTRINES LIMITING CONDITIONS ON GRANTS |
D&M, pp. 183-86. Text: Rule of the Destructibility of Contingent Remainders, Rule in Shelley’s Case, Doctrine of Worthier Title, and Rule Against Restraints on Alienation D&M, pp. 186-89. Riste v. Eastern Washington Bible Camp, Inc. |
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24 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: CONCURRENT INTERESTS—TYPES |
D&M, pp. 189-93. Text: Tenancy-in-Common & Joint Tenancy D&M, pp. 193-97. People v. Nogarr D&M, pp. 197-98. Problem D&M, pp. 198-99. Text: Severance of Leases and Life Estates D&M, pp. 216-20. Text: Common Law Marital Property Rights D&M, pp. 229-33. Text: Community Property |
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25 Feb. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: CONCURRENT INTERESTS—RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS AMONG CO-TENANTS |
D&M, pp. 199-204. Text: Partition, Possession, Contribution, Fiduciary Obligations, Accounting D&M, pp. 204-15. White v. Smyth D&M, pp. 215-16. Problem |
|
1 Mar. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: RIGHTS OF AND LIMITATIONS ON OWNERSHIP |
Hypo for class (we will not work through the casebook problem in detail) D&M, p. 273. Blackstone ‘s Commentaries D&M, p. 273. Cohen, Property and Sovereignty D&M, pp. 274-78. Text: The Coase Theorem D&M, pp. 278-81. Problem and Questions Optional law review articles: Dan Hunter, Amateur to Amateur Yochai Benkler, Coase's Penguin |
|
3 Mar. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: COMMON LAW DOCTRINES--TRESPASS (Class will begin after some musical performances; no one is required to attend the musical performances, nor will course material be discussed during the performances) Music: |
D&M, pp. 281-87. Calabresi & Melamed, Property Rules, Liability Rules, and Inalienability D&M, pp. 288-89. Pile v. Pedrick D&M, p. 289. Pile v. Pedrick D&M, pp. 289-92. Geragosian v. Union Realty Co. D&M,
pp. 292-96. Raah v. |
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4 Mar. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: COMMON LAW DOCTRINES--NUISANCE |
D&M, pp. 296-98. Text: Basic Rules on Nuisance D&M, pp. 298-305. Waschak v. Moffat D&M, pp. 305-10. Questions D&M, pp. 311-16. Bootner v. Atlantic Cement Co. D&M, pp. 317-18. Problems Optional: Notes on "tightening up" application of Coase to concert |
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8 Mar. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: TAKINGS |
D&M, pp. 318-21. Text: Introduction D&M, pp. 321-24. Text: Physical Invasion D&M, pp. 324-25. Text: Regulatory Takings D&M,
pp. 325-44. Penn Central Transportation Co. v. (review Rail Reorganization and Sabbatino cases from early in the semester) D&M, pp. 344-51. Sax, Some Thoughts on the Decline of Private Property D&M, pp. 352-53. Problems |
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10 Mar. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: TAKINGS |
D&M, pp. 353-54. Text: Takings Since Penn Central D&M,
pp. 354-68. Lucas v. Be prepared to argue either side of Kelo v. City of New London (not clickable) --CT Supreme Court opinion (.html) (Word version) (omit Parts I, III, IV and V of the opinion) --Petitioner's brief in U. S. Supreme Court (.pdf) --Respondent's brief in U.S. Supreme Court (.pdf) |
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11 Mar. |
BACKGROUND LEGAL RULES: CIVIL RIGHTS |
D&M, pp. 372-77. State v. Shack D&M, p. 377. Problems D&M,
pp. 377-82. D&M, pp. 382-84. Problems |
|
12-20 Mar. |
SPRING BREAK |
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| 22 Mar. | No class | |
| 24 Mar. | SOCIAL NORMS:
RESOLUTION OF TRESPASS DISPUTES IN |
D&M. pp. 440-41. Text: Introduction D&M, pp. 441-74. Ellickson, Order without Law D&M, pp. 474-78. Schild v. Rubin D&M, pp. 478-86. Roddenberry v. Roddenberrv |
| 25 Mar | NO CLASS (Good Friday) | |
|
29 Mar. |
SOCIAL NORMS: THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS |
Perritt,
Hybrid Regulation of the Internet
D&M, 500-02. Posner, The Regulation of Groups D&M, pp. 502-08. Merges, Contracting into Liability Rules D&M, pp509-521 Problem: consider how Internet-based market for copyrighted music should work |
|
31 Mar. |
MARKETS: LANDLORD-TENANT LAW |
D&M, pp. 581-89. Text: Introduction D&M, PP. 590-97. Medico-Dental Bldg. Co. v. Horton & Converse D&M, pp. 597-600. Text: Bargaining Power |
|
1 Apr. |
MARKETS: LANDLORD’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES |
D&M, pp. 600. Text D&M,
pp. 601-02. D&M,
PP. 602-10. D&M, PP. 610-13. Text: Remedies for Holding Over D&M, pp. 613-14. Text: Remedies for Abandonment D&M, PP. 614-21. Sommer v. Kridel D&M, pp. 621. Text: Reletting on the Tenant’s Account |
|
5 Apr. |
MARKETS: TENANT’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES |
D&M, Pp. 621-23. Text: Implied Covenant to Deliver D&M, pp. 623-24. Text: Implied Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment D&M, pp. 624-25. Problem D&M, pp. 625-28. Text: Constructive Eviction D&M, Pp. 628-29. Problem D&M, pp. 629-34. Text: Tenant’s Right to Habitable Premises D&M, pp. 634-42. Javins v. First National Realty Co. D&M, pp. 643-46. Text: Types of Remedies for Breach |
|
7 Apr. |
MARKETS: TENANT’S RIGHT TO HABITABLE PREMISES—EFFICACY |
D&M, PP. 646-69. Meyers, The Covenant of Habitability D&M, pp. 650-51. Text: Relationship of Tort Law to Warranty D&M, PP. 654-56. Review Problem |
|
8 Apr. |
MARKETS: RENT CONTROL AND LOW INCOME HOUSING POLICY |
D&M, pp. 690-92. Arnott, Time for Revisionism on Rent Control? D&M, pp. 692-94. Text: Preemption & Constitutional Litigation D&M,
pp. 694-02. Penell v. City of D&M, pp. 702-08. Arnott. Time for Revisionism on Rent Control? D&M, p. 709. Text: Introduction to Low Income Housing Policy D&M, pp. 709-12. Schill, Privatizing Federal Low Income Housing Assistance D&M, pp. 712-16. Berger, Beyond Hlomelessness: An Entitlement to Housing D&M, pp. 716-21. Ellickson, The Untenable Case for an Unconditional Right to Shelter |
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12 Apr. |
MARKETS: NONPOSSESSORY INTERESTS—EASEMENTS |
D&M, pp. 721-23. Text: Introduction to Nonpossessory Interests D&M, pp. 723-25. Text: Classification of Easements D&M, pp. 725-26. Creation of Express Easements D&M,
pp. 726-31. Faus v. City of D&M, pp. 731-32. Problems D&M, pp. 732-34. Text: Creation of Easements by Operation of Law D&M, pp. 734-39. Reese v. Borghi |
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14 Apr. |
MARKETS: NONPOSSESSORY INTERESTS—EASEMENTS |
D&M, pp. 739-40. Text: Creation of Easements by Prescription D&M,
pp. 740-41. D&M, pp. 741-46. Finley v. Botto D&M, p. 746. Text: Negative Easements D&M, pp. 746-47. Problems D&M, pp. 747-49. Review Problem D&M. pp. 749-52. Text: Termination of Easements D&M, pp. 752-54. Text: Conservation Easements D&M, pp. 754-55. Problem |
|
15 Apr. |
MARKETS: NONPOSSESSORY INTERESTS—REAL COVENANTS |
D&M, pp. 756-61. Text: Elements of a Real Covenant D&M, pp. 761-64. Eagle Enterprises, Inc. v. Gross D&M, p. 764. Chart |
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19 Apr. |
MARKETS: NONPOSSESSORY INTERESTS—EQUITABLE SERVITUDES |
D&M, pp. 765-67. Text: Elements of an Equitable Servitude D&M, pp. 767-72. Bolotin v. Rindge D&M, pp. 772-75. Problems D&M, p. 774. Chart |
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21 Apr. |
MARKETS: NONPOSSESSORY INTERESTS—HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND REFORMS |
D&M, pp. 775-76. Text: Enforcement of Homeowners’ Associations D&M, pp. 777-83. Neponsit Property Owners’ Ass’n, Inc. Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank D&M, pp. 783-84. Nonreciprocal Covenants D&M, pp. 784-91. Turner v. Brocato D&M, pp. 79 1-99. Reichman, Toward a Unified Concept of Servitudes D&M, pp. 799-800. French, Toward a Modern Law of Servitudes D&M, pp. 800-02. Berger, Unification of the Law of Servitudes D&M, pp. 802-03, Dunham, Statutory Reformation of Land Obligations D&M, pp. 803-07. Rose, Servitudes, Security, and Assent |
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22 Apr. |
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: REGULATING LAND USE |
D&M, pp. 888-96. Text: Theories of Local Politics D&M, pp. 896-99. Text: Legal & Political Institutions Regulating Land Use D&M, pp. 899-901. Text: Introduction to Euclidean Zoning D&M,
pp. 901-10. D&M, pp. 910-11. Mandelker, The Zoning Dilemma [D&M, pp. 911-13. Karkkainen, Zoning: A Reply to the Critics D&M, pp. 913-17. Epstein, A Conceptual Approach to Zoning D&M, pp. 917-19. Fischel, Equity and Efficiency Aspects of Zoning |
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26 Apr. |
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: THE SCOPE OF THE POLICE POWER |
D&M, pp. 919-22. Text: Zoning for Aesthetics D&M,
pp. 922-30. City of D&M, p. 930. Problems Please note that pages 930-957 are not assigned D&M, pp. 958-59. Text: Growth Controls D&M,
pp. 959-68. Associated Home Builders of Greater Eastbay
v. City of D&M, p. 968-74. Ellickson, Suburban Growth Controls |
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27 Apr. (makeup class; 1530, Room 210)
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POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: FLEXIBILITY IN LAND USE CONTROLS Deerfield Zoning Ordinance -- we will refer to Article 13 in class |
D&M, pp. 1005-09. Text: Evolution of Planning D&M, pp. 1009-19. Text: Legislative and Administrative Flexibility D&M, pp. 1019-20. Problem D&M, pp. 1020-21. Text: Conflict of Interest and Corruption D&M,
pp. 1022-25. Schauer
v. City of D&M,
pp. 1025-31. Fleming v. City
of |
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28 Apr. |
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: BARGAINING FOR EXACTIONS |
D&M, p. 1032. Text: Introduction to Bargaining D&M, p. 1033. Been, “Exit” As a Constraint on Land Use Exactions D&M, pp. 1033-36. Text: Exactions D&M,
pp. 1036-38. D&M, pp. 1038-39. Text: Inclusionary Zoning D&M,
pp. 1039-40. D&M, pp. 1040-41. Text: Criticisms of Linkage Fees Optional Illinois case involving challenge to Deerfield zoning Illinois case finding exaction to be unconstitutional taking Illinois case involving constitutionality of impact fee |
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29 Apr. |
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: TAKINGS DOCTRINE AS A LIMIT ON EXACTIONS Course evaluation questionnaires will be distributed 10 minutes before scheduled end of class |
D&M, pp. 1042-44. Text: Takings D&M, pp. 1044-48. Been, “Exit” As a Constraint on Land Use Exactions D&M,
pp. 1049-63. Dolan v. City of D&M, pp. 1063-65. Problems |
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CONVEYANCING AND LAND REGISTRATION |
D&M pp392-440; Conduct a title search for an actual piece of real property in a land records office, and send a brief report of what you did and what you found to propdocs@kentlaw.edu. You may use any piece of property anywhere in the world, and search the records of whatever governmental entity maintains records for that property. |
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3 May |
REVIEW Review audio file (Sony format) (.wav file--BIG file) "You have the power to change things" (Sony format) (.wav file) |
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RECOMMENDED SECONDARY MATERIALS
Restatement
(Third) of Property (West Group)
FINAL EXAMINATION
The
final examination in this course will be given on
In
the final examination, you are responsible for all the materials discussed in
class and in the assigned readings. Obviously, the examination cannot touch
upon all that material, but anything we do in class, anything you see in your land-register-
visit, and anything in the assigned readings may be tested. You may bring any
materials, whether commercially prepared or not, to the final exam, but
successful performance on the exam will not require original research. Prepare
for the exam as though it were “closed-book.”
ATTENDANCE
Much
of the material and most of the legal analysis in this course is not contained
in the assigned readings. Consequently, class attendance is an indispensable
part of the course. Failure to attend regularly will result in exclusion from
the course and a grade of “E” Sporadic absences will result in a lowering of
your grade, in the discretion of the instructor. The instructor reserves the
discretion to determine what constitutes “regularly” and “sporadic.” The only safe
course is to attend every class.
TARDINESS
I
strongly discourage tardiness and reserve the power to lower your grade for
tardiness.
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Matt
Topic, 2L, is the Teaching Assistant for the course. His email address is mtopic@kentlaw.edu. He will be available
every ____ from ___ PM to ___ PM, in the 2d floor cafeteria area, for questions
and will give supplementary presentations on certain material.
HATS
Do
not wear hats in class.
WANDERING IN AND OUT OF CLASS
Once
you are present in the classroom, please stay there, unless you have a genuine
emergency. If an emergency requires you to leave the classroom, do not return.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
I
teach “Socratically.” Every student is expected to be
prepared in every class. Any student may be called on at any time. Volunteering
is encouraged. There is no “right” answer; only cogent and persuasive
arguments, backed up by legitimate legal authority.
VISITING A
LAND REGISTRATION OFFICE
Attending
a land registration office is a
mandatory requirement for credit in the course. You may do this at any time
during the semester. After attending, you must send me an email, to propdocs@kentlaw.edu, briefly
describing what you observed and explaining how it relates to one or more
specific subjects in the syllabus.
FINAL GRADE
1.
Your
final grade will be determined by how well you do on the final exam, except
that I reserve the power to decrease your final grade for unsatisfactory classroom
participation, failure to complete any drafting exercises satisfactorily,
failure to complete the land-registration-office visit, or excessive
absenteeism or tardiness. I also reserve the power to increase your final grade
by one-half of a grade for outstanding classroom participation. Evaluation of
your final examination will
emphasize reasons given, analysis and logic as well as the conclusions drawn.
Organization and clarity are very important.
A shorter answer that is well organized and evidences a clear
understanding of basic concepts and their interrelationships is better than a
long answer with disconnected fragments of information.
OFFICE HOURS & APPOINTMENTS
I
welcome interaction with students. I will be happy to make an appointment to see
any of you individually or in groups. I do not have specific office hours. If
you want to meet, please set up an appointment by emailing me at hperritt@kentlaw.edu, calling me at
(312) 906-5098, emailing or calling my assistant, Ms Patricia O’Neal at (312)
906-5128, poneal@kentlaw.edu, or by seeing me before or after class.
WEBSITE
http://www.kentlaw.edu/perritt/courses/property
The
Website contains the syllabus and supplementary materials. Please check the
Website regularly, particularly before you begin preparing for a particular
class and again before coming to class. I will update it regularly.
E-MAIL
I
may communicate with you by e-mail at any time throughout the semester. Check
your e-mail regularly. If you would like to communicate with me via e-mail,
please feel free to do so.