Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Facts: An Indian tribe sold a plot of land to Johnson. Thirty years later, the
U.S. gave M’Intosh the same piece of land. Johnson was thrown off the land.
Johnson sued M’Intosh for a ejectment cause of action.
Issues: Whether the title given by the Indians can be recognized in the
Courts of the US.
Rule: The decree of 1763 stated that no one could purchase land from an
Indian because the land was not theirs, it belonged to the government.
NOTES:
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Facts: The tribe wanted compensation for the taking of certain timber by the
United States from Alaskan lands allegedly belonging to the group.
Facts: While Post was hunting and pursuing a fox with dogs, Pierson
intercepted the fox, killed it, and carried it off. From a trial court decision for
the plaintiff, the defendant appealed.
Issues: Whether Post, by his pursuit, acquired such a right to, or property in,
the fox.
NOTES:
Form of action – trespass on the case (deals with personal property with a
specific remedy (money)
Facts: Both parties owned property over a huge gas reservoir in which
drilling rigs were established. The defendant’s rig blow out and destroyed
property of the plaintiff.
Issues: Whether the law of capture absolves respondents of any liability for
the negligent waste or destruction of petitioners’ gas and distillate.
NOTES:
Surface owner is the owner of the land and also the absolute owner of the oil
and gas below.
riparian owner
Facts: INS waits for AP to release its stories on a community bulletin board
or a newspaper, then steals the idea and sells it to other newspapers. From a
judgment for AP, INS appeals.
Rule: Upon the publication of news, property right is lost and may be
regarded as public knowledge. Each party is under a duty so to conduct its
own business as not unnecessarily or unfairly to injure that of another.
Application: AP remains the owner of the stories after they are published as
far as their competition is concerned. This is unfair competition in business
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Conclusion/Holding: Affirmed.
Dissent #1: Property does not arise from value. The defendant should be
enjoined from publishing news obtained from the AP for hours after
publication by the plaintiff unless it gives express credit to the AP.
Facts: Doctors, who were treating Moore for leukemia, used his blood,
semen, bone marrow, and spleen unknown to Moore to come up with the
lucrative “Mo cell line." Moore found out and now wants compensation.
Rule: Conversion.
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Facts: From 1944 to 1978 D used, staked, and improved a cabin. From a
denial for P’s directed verdict, P appealed.
Issues: Whether the jury could reasonably conclude that the Fagerstroms
adversely possessed the parcel.
Rule: For the statutory period ‘his use of the land was continuous, open and
notorious, exclusive and hostile to the true owner.’
Application: The defendants cared for the parcel as if they owned it. A quick
investigation of the premises would have been sufficient to place a reasonably
diligent landowner on notice that someone may have been exercising
dominion and control over their property.
Where, as in the present case, the land is rural, a lesser exercise of dominion
and control may be reasonable.
NOTES:
The requirements:
actual – take and use the property as if it were yours {may be easement if you
just use it}
exclusive – keep trespassers off the land like what a owner would normally do
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open and notorious – needs to be sufficient warning to the public that a claim
is being asserted
property owned by someone else and must intend to oust the true owner.
statutory period (tacking) – 21 years in England and still used in some states.
Western states are easier to get AP (5 years in shortest). NJ is 20 years but
drops the element of permission for 30 years in developed land (60 years in
undeveloped land).
[pay taxes in some states] – some states require that you paid the property
taxes during the AP claim.
Can not gain adverse possession when you are given permission to occupy the
land.
1. Land development
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2. Distribution of wealth.
Issues: Whether the court erred in making two findings of fact. First, if the
plaintiff failed to prove the size of the easement, and secondly, the use of the
area was made with the permission of the fee owner.
Rule: Slight deviations from the accustomed route will not defeat an
easement, only substantial changes which break the continuity of the course
to travel.
Application: The traveling of trucks entering the easement had only slight
deviations. Plaintiff met its burden by establishing the general outlines of the
easement with reasonable certainty.
Feed
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NCC Store
The requirements for easements are generally the same but are more lapse in
most states.
Facts: D purchased their property by deed and were informed that there
property ran up to a fence, when, in actuality, the two-foot-wide tract of land
belonged to the P. The D took care of the P and refused to let the P build on
the property once the truth was known. The P sued and won and the D
appealed based on tacking.
Rule: Where one by mistake occupies land up to a line beyond his actual
boundary, believing it to be the true line, such belief will not defeat his right
to claim that he holds such land adversely or hostility under the doctrine of
AP.
Facts: P excavated two tons of Indian artifacts. The TC denied relief under
the theory of unjust enrichment. P appealed.
Issues: The adequacy of proof that the Tunica-Biloxi tribe are descendants
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of the inhabitants of the burial grounds, the ownership of the artifacts, and
the applicability of the theory of unjust enrichment.
NOTES:
Declamatory relief
He claims he dug up buried treasure. The items were not gold and silver or
stolen goods and therefore distinctive.
Mr. Hoshman did not have the authority to allow access to the property,
therefore the defendant was a trespasser.
Facts: Tedesco, a farmer who hires migrant workers, called police when
defendants, Tejeras and Shack walked onto his property to check on a injured
worker and a worker who needed legal advise.
Rule: Representatives from charities may enter upon the premises to seek
out the worker at his living quarters.
Notes:
Property rights serve human values. Human rights are higher than property
rights in NJ. (liberal)
Most justices say that property rights have changed over time.
Facts: Lloyd Corp., owner, made the D stop distributing handbills. The DC
found the Center was equivalent to a public business district and that their
rules violated First Amendment rights. The Court of Appeals affirmed.
Rule: The Constitution does not require private property to be used for
public use, nor does it lose its private character because the public is invited
to use it.
DISSENTING: In Marsh, “the more an owner, for his advantage, opens up his
property for use by the public in general, the more so his rights of those who
use it". It is a balance we are striking between freedom of speech and freedom
of private property.
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Constitution’s right to free speech is broader than the First Amendment. The
court contended that leafleting would not hurt the business of the mall as it
did not for downtown businesses.
NOTES:
Facts: Plaintiff, wanted to leaflet Hartz. The mall wanted him to follow three
regulations. 1. Get a $1,000,000 insurance policy. 2. Sign a “hold harmless"
clause, and 3. Only one day per year. The premium for the insurance policy
was $665 which was cost prohibitive. P filed suit and was allowed to leaflet
one day without insurance. The Chancery Division ruled all three regulations
were invalid. AC held that all three regulations were good faith.
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NOTES:
Stadium
Home Depot
Facts: D owned six out of 76 parcels of oceanfront land. They lease the other
parcels from private landowners. D owns the land commencing at the end of
seven of these streets for the width of each street and extending through the
upper dry sand to the mean water line. It charges residents $60 to $90 per
year for membership.
Issues: Whether the public has a right to use the dry sand area owned by a
quasi-public body.
Rule: Land covered by tidal waters belongs to the sovereign, but for the
common use of all people.
Application: The public must be able to have access to the beach as well as
the dry area. The complete pleasure of swimming must be accompanied by
intermittent periods of rest and relaxation beyond the water’s edge. The
Association’s activities paralleled those of a municipality in its operation of
the beachfront. There is no public beach.
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Facts: The Ps purchased a home and four years later they became aware that
the wall under their front porch was giving way and that the living room
plaster had cracked. The defendant owned a retaining wall built on the
bottom of the hill.
NOTES:
Facts: P alleges damage from D’s past and continuing withdraws of vast
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Issues: Whether the defendant is liable for subjacent support to the plaintiff.
Rule: Owners have absolute ownership over their property. Law of capture
except when wasteful.
Application: P argue for the reasonable use rule. Only waste and malice are
limitations to the absolute ownership rule.
Dissent: This is a nuisance case. The plaintiffs assert an absolute right to keep
the surface of their land at its natural horizon. The plaintiff does have a right
to lateral support.
NOTES:
Building codes may not a cause of action to support a law suits. In these
cases, common law is used.
Issues: Whether the court erred in not addressing the issue of unusually
sensitive areas.
NOTES:
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PLAINTIFF
Proposed Building
Defendant
Facts: D built his house next door to the P’s solar powered home.
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Facts: The A gave permission to D to use the road for eight years. The right
to the use of this easement was not established by prescription. The appellee
came to the Taylors and offered the easement for sale for $500. The Taylor
rejected the offer. The appellee then blocked the road to discontinue use to
the appellants.
Facts: The P owned homes around lake purchased by D who wants to kick
them out. P had a license agreement with the prior owner. The court entered
judgment for a constructive trust. Both sides appeal.
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Issues: Whether the agreement between the cabin owners and Tavenner
entitled the owners to an irrevocable license.
Application: Tavenner misled the cabin owners into believing they did not
have to fear the loss of their investment and so allowed them to act to their
detriment.
title beneift
Facts: D bought a parcel from the P who maintains two easements for access
purposes. The D admitted that he saw the two easements before he purchased
the property. Form a judgment for the P, D appealed.
Issues: Did the plaintiff acquire an easement by implied reservation over the
driveways of the defendant?
Rule: There are two types of easements – easement by necessity and the
easement implied from a pre-existing use.
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2. before separation, the common owner used part of the parcel for the
benefit of another part, and the use was apparent, obvious, continuous, and
permanent and
Easements – express
prescription
by necessity
appurtenant
in gross
actual notice
inquiry notice
constructive notice
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Facts: Ps charge that the nearest and only available means of egress from
and ingress to their land to a highway is by means of a right of way over D’s
tract. Ps must now walk, with their livestock, to the nearest road
Rule: Where an owner of land conveys a parcel thereof which has no outlet
to a highway except over the remaining lands of the grantor or over the land
of strangers, a way by necessity exists over the remaining lands of the grantor.
Facts: The D purchased parcel from Ps. The P agreed to a deed release to a
small section in return for the promise of an easement along the southern
border of their land. P used the easement as a practice runway for their
motorcycles. The court ordered the plaintiff’s use to be limited to ingress and
egress for their own home and prohibited the passage of motorcycles.
Plaintiffs appeal.
NOTES:
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Three requirements:
2. intent
Issues: Whether P can expand the road to make room for his expansion.
Conclusion/Holding: Remanded.
Facts: Ps were expressly granted the right to construct and maintain electric,
telephone, and telegraphic in a subdivision. They granted easements to other
parties to perform these duties. Those parties granted D a license to enter
upon their easements and erect cable. P filed a trespass action.
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Rule: One who grants to another the right to use the grantor’s land in a
particular manner for a specified purpose but who retains no interest in
exercising a similar right himself, sustains no loss if the use is shared by the
grantee with others.
in writing
notice
touch and concern the land (related to use of land, land increased in value)
Only get damages from common law courts in England. Still followed by
some states.
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notice
intent to run
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Conclusion: Reversed.
NOTES:
Facts: D was deeded the title from her husband. D wanted to build a gas
station in the back of her lot. Restricted for residential purposes, Ps sue.
From a decree for P, Ds appeal.
Rule: Three types of notice for covenants: constructive, inquiry, and actual.
Conclusion: Affirmed
NOTES:
Apartment houses are not desirable in a residential area and would defeat a
equitable servitude based on a residential restriction.
Is it a common scheme if only half of the lots are restricted? The court did not
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Facts: P bought the lot without restrictions. Nine months later, the sub-
division created the covenant. P attempted to build a covered walkway
without authorization. P wins, D appeals, affirmed in Court of Appeals,
appealed.
Rule: Each deed must be construed at the time it is given. Every material
term of an agreement within the statute of frauds must be reduced to writing.
No essential element of a writing can be supplied by parol evidence.
Conclusion: Affirmed
Dissent: Plaintiffs took the deed with the understanding that the lot was
subject to valid restrictions.
NOTES:
California has strict rules for equitable servitudes. Must be in the deed for
actual notice.
Issue: Whether D violated the covenant and whether the covenant violated
public policy.
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Rule: From the covenant restraining D’s property: “The aforesaid real
property shall be used for residential purposes only. No buildings shall be
erected, altered, placed, or permitted to remain on said real property other
than single or double family dwellings."
The house serves as a surrogate family arrangement. D’s intended use of its
property does not violate the terms of the restrictive covenant.
Conclusion: Reversed.
Issue: Whether the covenant can be enforced against the sale of alcohol by
D.
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Notes:
Language in covenant
Prescription
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n the lord from whom you held has the right to take over the land if you die
and leave a son under 21, and the right to marry off sons or daughters and
collect the money from it.
Transfer of land have to aproved by the lord from whom you held and
generally required a payment.
O to A and his heirs (these words defined who owned the property) – had to
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Feoffment with livery of seison (Feoffment – the act of giving the property)
(livery – status of
with land)
n needed witnesses (no females before 1800) (young boys made a business
out of it) (beat boys so that they would remember the day)
n if A had a male child declared by the church, born alive, and then the child
dies, he had the option of transferring the property in FSA to anyone
n if no child or only girls, it goes back to the lord whom you held
Fee tail
n As soon as A makes a male child, the property will transfers to his heirs,
otherwise back to X
n if king took your property interests (fee tail) and kills him, it reverts backs
to X which was probably owned by the same family. Better to keep him alive.
Defeasible Fees
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n Marketable Title Acts state the possibility of reverter may only last a certain
period of time, ex 50 years
n right of entry
n transferable
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n some states allow to set up so that a third party must assert the interest
Life Estates
n executory interest
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n A to B for life, then to C, however, B shall have right to invade the corpus
n B has the right to sell part or all of the property in fee simple absolute
n under common law, one future interest only called a remainder (third party
future interest that meets certain rules)
n use – (modern term – trust) A to B and his heirs for the use of C
ª in 1536, the Statue of Uses said you cannot separate use from ownership
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ª the Statue of Enrollment – stated you could only transfer title in the written
document that is recorded.
ª In 1540, the statue of Wills was passed, that stated property could be
transferred by will
ª follows a fee simple or springs into existence in the future, or cuts short a
prior estate.
n transferable
n remainders
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n VESTED REMAINDERS
n O to A for life, then to B, but if B has flunked out of law school, the property
shall then revert to O.
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n CONTINGENT REMAINDERS
n unascertained person
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n O to A for life, remainder to A’s heirs is the same as O to A and his heirs
therefor leaving a life estate to A
n any property interest that can last forever on future interests in 3rd parties
n contingent remainders
n executory interests
n powers of appointment
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n present estates
n interests of grantors
n all people are there and we know what there share is (problem with VRSTO)
n A to B for life, then to B’s widow for life, then to B’s surviving children
n B is not a life being because she might not be alive at A’s death
n if B is not a life being, the children’s interest may not vest in 21 years after
B’s death
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n Fertile Octogenarian
n Changes in Interpretation:
n promissory restraints
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n disabling restraints
Facts: P conveyed deed to D stating the land had to used for a hospital. After
40 years, D sold the land to a private company who tore the hospital down.
From summary judgment for D, P appeals.
Conclusion: Affirmed
Rule: 4 conditions:
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Conclusion: Affirmed.
Riste v. Eastern Washington Bible Camp, Inc. (Wash. Ct. App. 1980)
p. 561
Facts: D subdivided and lots sold only to people who agreed to subscribe to
the church. D issued the deed to P that contained restrictions on resale. P
tried to sell the property contrary to restrictions.
Issue: Whether the restrictions are against public policy and thus void.
Application/Conclusion: Sellable.
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Rule: A condition in a devise in fee that the devisee shall make oath that he
will not dispose of the estate during his life is void.
Application/Conclusion: No
Facts: Grantees contracted to sell to D but P rejected the sale based upon
restrictions to the property that the grantee could not sell or rent the land
without P’s consent.
Application: On the theory that the quoted covenant is void, the averment
was arbitrary and unreasonable.
Conclusion: Yes
Restraints on Alienation:
Forfeiture – have to give something up, ex. if you get married you have to give
it up
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Horse Pond Fish & Game Club, Inc. v. Cormier (N.H. 1990) p.569
Facts:. P deeded a property to two of its members who conveyed it back the
same day with restrictions stating the parcel shall not be alienated unless a
100% vote from members or the club is dissolved. P conveyed a meeting to
approve a land swap where D voted against it. P filed suit seeking a
declaration that the restriction in the deed was void as an unreasonable
restraint against alienation. P’s motion for summary judgment granted. D
appeals.
Conclusion: Reversed.
Options to Repurchase
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Conclusion: Reversed
Application: Does not apply to a commercial lease with these terms. Every
renewal is a new lease.
Conclusion: Enforceable
Facts: D gave first notice to purchase for a condo unit but X sold to another
purchaser anyway. D sued condos (P).
Issue: Whether the RAP invalidates the right to purchase clause in the
condo’s declaration.
Rule: The rule does not serve the purpose for which it was designed for
(preventing restraint on alienation or improvements of the property).
Application: ROP does not apply since the sale price is the same as the
biding price
1. A person who has a future interest in a property has the right to visit the
property to make sure it is being maintained properly.
Facts: Claim of waste of heir to a life estate. P waits until mother died before
stating claim. D appeals judgment for P.
Rule: 1. Permissive waste is the failure of the tenant to exercise the ordinary
care of a prudent man for the
Conclusion: Affirmed
Constructive Trusts
Facts: P’s grandmother conveyed all of a 136 acre tract to D with stipulation
that a one acre piece of the tract would go to the P at her death. D refused to
give it up. Property given in fee simple has no legal duty to convey because of
restraints on alienation. P seek a constructive trust.
Anticompetitive Covenants
– Taco Bell wanted to open up a store in D’s mall that had a covenant not to
compete. Court held P could open up a store in many other places.
n Coparceny – if there were sons to inherit property, all the daughters would
inherit the property until they married.
n The title then became a tenancy by the entirety where the husband would
control the property. The surviving spouse would own the property in FSA
and would be passed to the heirs.
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n It they did not marry, it passed to the lord whom held the property.
Married women
n Once a child was born alive, the property became curtesy (husband had life
estate as long as they are married).
n Dower rights – Widow was entitled to 1/3 of the income from all the
property ever owned while they were married. Waiveable.
Husband and wife could enter into agreement to let wife run the land.
Equity courts would allow trusts for wives. (wording – “separate use")
Equity courts would allow trustee to sue on the behalf of the wife.
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1848 – assured woman could retain the property she had before marriage.
1849 – women had the right to convey her own property with her husband’s
permission
It took until 1977 to give a woman the right to sell her property in all 50 states
Issue: Whether the covenant was valid and did it violate Ps 14th amendment
rights.
Rule: Covenant is valid only if action is taken by private party and NOT by
government.
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Conclusion: Reversed
Issue:
Rule:
Application:
His seven grandchildren were declared owners of property who sold the
property to developers who shut the park down and build commercial and
residential buildings.
Has right of Survivorship – upon death, the interests transfer to other joint
tenants
Formalities of Creation
Time
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Title
Interest
Possession
Severance
A joint tenant who wishes to destroy the right of survivorship while retaining
her life
Joint tenancy versus dual life estates with alternative contingent remainders
B survives A.
Tenancy in Common
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Undivided interest
Divisible in a will
Condominium
Cooperative
Survivorship
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
taxes – share
repairs – If a co-tenant makes repairs with notice, the other co-tenants are
generally
improvements
single co-owner
Ouster – any act which interferes with the free use of the property by the co-
owners
– actual –
– more desirable when the value of the property does not change
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Adverse Possession – the actions one each co-tenant is done for the benefit of
the group, however
Facts: Couple got divorced. Husband wanted court to say he was ousted so
he could collect rent.
Rule: The character of the property must be such as to make such joint
occupancy impossible or impracticable.
Conclusion: No ouster
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Application: The lease is valid and P cannot be ejected. The proper remedy
is partition.
Facts: Joint tenant leases his interests with an option to purchase and then
dies. Other joint tenant looking for sole possession.
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Conclusion:
Facts: Co-owner leased property without consent from the other co-owner
(P). Latter brought suit. Dissolution decree awarded the land to P and P
brought forcible entry and detainer action.
Issue: Whether P’s land was subject to the D’s leasehold interest
Rule: One of several tenants in common can lease his own interest to third
persons
Notes: In most states with tenancy by the entireties, the interests of P would
be held until the wife dies first. P was an involuntary creditor. Most property
in Hawaii is owned by four trusts.
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Condo
– Buying the cube of air – do not have the right to have the building repaired
in case of destruction.
Co-op
– fewer than 10 co-op survived the depression in NYC b/c you pay the portion
of the rent of anyone
that leaves
cash up front
Restraint on Alienation
Facts: P who already owns a unit, wants to move into another unit. Condo D
exercises right of
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
first refusal. P yells invalid restraint on alienation, a vote of less than 2/3, and
discrimination
Facts: Member sold her condo unit without obtaining consent from
association (D) and thus
triggered a reverter clause that stated she lost her condo. D also wants
damages. TC found for D.
Conclusion: Reversed
Facts: Condo adopted provision with a ¾ vote that prohibited rental units. P
requested permission to rent his unit and was denied.
Application: Any drastic changes that the board makes are only applicable
to future buyers
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
4 TYPES
Term for years lease – any lease with a definite starting date and a definite
ending date (SOF limitations)
– no notice is required to terminate after term, must re-contract for new term
– to raise rent, had to notify and stop old lease then notify and start new one
a day later
– requires no notice
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
RULES
– American rule – landlord only has to give the legal right to possess
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Total – tenant physically barred from property, eliminates future duty from
tenant
Constructive – taking action which causes the tenant to feel insecure but no
physical act
Total – as above
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
Common Law states you could fail to renew lease for any reason
2. Refuse, Sit and do nothing – most states say there is duty to mitigate
Facts: P was recruited to work on farm, was fired, and kicked out of housing.
Facts:
Issue:
Facts:
Issue:
Rule:
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Red covenants (covenants which run with the land at law) | 4 Law School 8/19/18, 9'28 PM
– property must be livable; including means for heat, electricity, hot water,
no infestations, plumbing, fire
– covers tenants, others who live in the apartment, others who live in the
building, social guests who were
Defenses
– reason to terminate the lease and move out without being bound
– tenant must notify the landlord unless the listed violations are fixed in 14 or
21 days
– repair and deduct (some states say no more than one months rent per year)
Offenses
– order to repair
– property damages
– landlord defenses:
– not a violation
– no such condition
Retaliatory Eviction
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