Lessons by Subject Outline - Property Law

  • 1. Possession and Transfer of Personal Property
    • 1.1. Distinction between Real Property (land) and Personal Property or Chattels
    • 1.2. Wild animals
      • 1.2.1. Ownership through capture
      • 1.2.2. Escape
      • 1.2.3. Exception for trespassers
    • 1.3. Rights of possessors
      • 1.3.1. Right of owner to possess
        • 1.3.1.1. Physical possession
        • 1.3.1.2. Intent to control
        • 1.3.1.3. Constructive possession
        • 1.3.1.4. Custody
      • 1.3.2. Right of owner to transfer rights
    • 1.4. Accession (adding of new value to a chattel)
      • 1.4.1. By natural growth
      • 1.4.2. By labor of another
        • 1.4.2.1. Willful wrongdoer
        • 1.4.2.2. Innocent wrongdoer
      • 1.4.3. By trespasser to realty
      • 1.4.4. Addition of goods owned by another
    • 1.5. Bona fide purchasers
    • 1.6. Bailment ("the rightful possession of goods by one who is not the owner")
      • 1.6.1. Differ from Bailments in contracts course - here K implied or non-existent
        • 1.6.2.1. Title remains in bailor
      • 1.6.2. Characteristics
        • 1.6.2.2. Problems of fungible goods (ex. grain in an elevator)
        • 1.6.2.3. Distinguished from a sale
        • 1.6.2.4. Possession and physical control by bailee
        • 1.6.2.5. Intent by bailee to assume custody and control
          • 1.6.2.5.1. Intent to take possession and exercise control need not be voluntary
      • 1.6.3. Standards of care imposed on the bailee
        • 1.6.3.1. Older view
          • 1.6.3.1.1. Was bailment for the benefit of the bailor or the bailee or both?
        • 1.6.3.2. Modern view
          • 1.6.3.2.1. Bailee must exercise ordinary care under the circumstances
          • 1.6.3.2.2. What "circumstances" do courts consider? Bailment that results from Contract
          • 1.6.3.2.3. Public policy considerations
      • 1.6.4. Duty of Bailee to redeliver
        • 1.6.4.1. Demand by bailor
        • 1.6.4.2. Demand may be unnecessary if goods destroyed
        • 1.6.4.3. Wrongful termination of the bailment by the bailee
        • 1.6.4.4. Liability inferred in goods not returned
        • 1.6.4.5. Liability for conversion
      • 1.6.5. Bailee's Rights
        • 1.6.5.1. Right to possession and use
        • 1.6.5.2. Right to compensation and expenses
      • 1.6.7. Right to exercise a lien
        • 1.6.5.4. Right to sue a third party
      • 1.6.6. Bailor's rights against third parties
        • 1.6.6.1. Against bono-fide purchasers
        • 1.6.6.2. Against those who damage or destroy the goods
    • 1.7. Intervivos Gifts
      • Gifts I: Inter Vivos Gifts (PPL25)
      • 1.7.1. Elements of an Inter Vivos Gift
      • 1.7.2. Understanding Intent and Delivery
        • 1.7.2.1. Functions of "intent" and "delivery"
        • 1.7.2.2. Permissible types of delivery
        • 1.7.2.3. Delivery in Special Circumstances
          • 1.7.2.3.1. Delivery to a third party (escrow)
          • 1.7.2.3.2. Gifts of intangibles and undivided interests
          • 1.7.2.3.3. When delivery is excused
      • 1.7.3. Conditional Gifts
    • 1.8. Testamentary Gifts
    • 1.9. Finders of lost property
      • 1.9.1. Rights of possessor over all expect the owner
      • 1.9.2. Chattels abandoned by their first owner
        • 1.9.2.1. Abandoned when owner intentionally gives up rights
      • 1.9.3. Property lost when owner involuntarily parted with property
      • 1.9.4. Obligations of finders of lost property
      • 1.9.5. Goods found on property of another
        • 1.9.5.1. Goods found under the soil vs. treasure trove
        • 1.9.5.2. Goods found by trespasser
      • 1.9.6. Goods found by employee
      • 1.9.7. Mislaid property
    • 1.10. Wrongful Possession
    • 1.11. Fixtures
      • 1.11.1. Defined
      • 1.11.2. Transfer of ownership of an item
      • 1.11.3. Conversion of a chattel to a fixture
      • 1.11.4. Severance conversion of a fixture to a chattel
      • 1.11.5. Landlord and tenant rules
  • 2. Adverse Possession
  • 3. Servitudes including Easements and Promises Concerning Land
  • 4. Possessory Estates
    • The Estate System (PPL04)
    • 4.1. Historical underpinnings of tenure explained
    • 4.2. Fee Simple
      • 4.2.1. Fee simple absolute
        • Fee Simple Absolute (PPL14)
        • 4.2.1.1. The Concept of an Estate in Land
          • 4.2.1.1.1. Possession
          • 4.2.1.1.2. Potential Duration
          • 4.2.1.1.3. Freehold vs. Non-Freehold Estates
        • 4.2.1.2. Characteristics of the Fee Simple Absolute
        • 4.2.1.3. Creation of a Fee Simple
      • 4.2.2. Fee tail Estate
        • Estate in Fee Tail (PPL26)
        • 4.3.2.1. Historical Origins of The Fee Tail Estate
        • 4.3.2.2. Legal Characteristics of the Traditional Fee Tail Estate
        • 4.3.2.3. Modern Fee Tail and Fee Simple Conditional Estates
        • 4.3.2.4. Treatment of the Fee Tail Under Modern Statutes
      • 4.2.3. Defeasible estates
        • Interpreting the Language of Conveyances (PPL07)
        • 4.3.3.1. Rules of construction of language
        • 4.3.3.2. Fee simple determinable
          • 4.3.3.2.1. Relation to specified event
          • 4.3.3.2.2. Buzz words for creation
        • 4.3.3.3. Fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
          • 4.3.3.3.1. Grantor's rights and relation to a specific event
          • 4.3.3.3.2. Buzz words for creation
        • 4.3.3.4. Fee simple subject to an executory interest
          • 4.3.3.4.1. Statute of Uses
          • 4.3.3.4.2. Creation in third parties
        • 4.3.3.5. Defeasible life estate
        • 4.3.3.6. Defeasible non-freehold (estate for years)
      • 4.2.4. Life estates
      • 4.2.5. Restraints on Alienation
        • 4.3.7.1. Direct and Indirect Restraints
        • 4.3.7.2. Disabling, Forfeiture and Promissory Restraints
        • 4.3.7.3. Restraints on Fee Simple Estates promissory restraint
          • 4.3.7.3.1. Absolute Restraints on Fee Simple Estates
          • 4.3.7.3.2. Restraints on Fee Simple Estates Limited as to Time
          • 4.3.7.3.3. Restraints on Fee Simple Estates Limited as to Transferees
          • 4.3.7.3.4. Restraints on Fee Simple Estates Limited as to Manner of Alienation
    • 4.4. Doctrine of Cy Pres
  • 5. Future Interests
  • 6. Rule Against Perpetuities
  • 7. Concurrent Ownership
    • 7.1. Basic concurrent estates
      • 7.1.1. Joint tenancy
      • 7.1.2. Tenancy in common
        • Tenancy in Common (PPL12)
        • 7.1.2.1. General Concepts
        • 7.1.2.2. No Right of Survivorship
        • 7.1.2.3. Parties Need Not Have Equal Interests
          • 7.1.2.3.1. Different Estates
          • 7.1.2.3.2. Different Fractional Interests
        • 7.1.2.4. At Common Law
        • 8.1.2.5. Today
      • 7.1.3. Tenancy by the entirety
        • Tenancy by the Entirety (PPL24)
        • 7.1.3.1. Defined
        • 7.1.3.2. Right of survivorship
          • 7.1.3.2.1. Relation to marital property in many states
        • 7.1.3.3. Status today
        • 7.1.3.4. Creation
          • 7.1.3.4.1. Unity of Time
          • 7.1.3.4.2. Unity of Title
          • 7.1.3.4.3. Unity of Interest
          • 7.1.3.4.4. Unity of Possession
          • 7.1.3.4.5. Unity of Marriage
        • 7.1.3.5. Husband and wife must act together
        • 7.1.3.6. Termination
    • 7.2. Relations between co-tenants
      • Relations Between Co-Tenants (PPL29)
      • 7.2.1. Right to Possession
      • 7.2.2. Accountability to Other Tenants; Contributions to Expenses
      • 7.2.3. CO-tenants Fiduciary Relationship
      • 7.2.4. Right to Partition
    • 7.3. Multiple ownership of buildings as in co-ops and condos
    • 7.4. Marital Estates
      • 7.4.1. Common Law Marital Interests
        • 7.4.1.1. Management rights
        • 7.4.1.2. Divorce
        • 7.4.1.3. Death or succession
      • 7.4.2. Community Property
        • 7.4.2.1. Management rights
        • 7.4.2.2. Divorce
        • 7.4.2.3. Death or succession
  • 8. Landlord and Tenant
    • 8.1. Introduction to Landlord Tenant
    • 8.2. Types of Leasehold estates
    • 8.3. Tenant's rights of possession and quiet enjoyment
    • 8.4. Tort liability of landlord and tenant
    • 8.5. Tenant's duties and rights
      • 8.5.1. Rent
        • 8.5.1.1. Rules today vs. under common law
        • 8.5.1.2. Non-payment of rent
          • 8.5.1.2.1. Eviction
      • 8.5.2. Abandonment and surrender
        • 8.5.2.1. Damages
      • 8.5.3. Defenses to rent
        • Landlord and Tenant: Constructive Eviction (PPL53)
        • 8.5.3.1. Illegality
        • 8.5.3.2. Frustration of purpose
        • 8.5.3.3. Taking by eminent domain
        • 8.5.3.4. Destruction of the premises
        • 8.5.3.5. Eviction and constructive eviction: implied covenant of quiet enjoyment
      • 8.5.4. Doctrine of Waste - duty to avoid waste
        • 8.5.4.1. Voluntary waste
        • 8.5.4.2. Permissive waste
        • 8.5.4.3. Ameliorating waste
    • 8.6. Condition of Premises
      • 8.6.1. General principles
        • 8.6.1.1. No duty to repair
        • 8.6.1.2. Exceptions
      • 8.6.2. Implied covenant of habitability
        • 8.6.2.1. Fitness of the premises & caveat emptor
      • 8.6.3. Commercial Leases
      • 8.6.4. Tenant's remedies
    • 8.7. Transfer and sale by lessor
      • 8.7.1. Relation of parties common law and today
    • 8.8. Assignment vs. subletting by lessee
      • 8.8.1. Defined
      • 8.8.2. Rights and liabilities of landlord and assignee/sublessee
      • 8.8.3. Covenants against assignment or subletting
    • 8.9. Fair Housing Act
  • 9. Rights Incident to Land
    • 9.1. Nuisance
    • 9.2. Water rights/underground/Riparian Lands
    • 9.3. Public trust doctrine
  • 10. Zoning and Other Public Land-Use Controls
    • 10.1. Historical overview
    • 10.2. Legal Limits
      • 10.2.1. Takings and land-use controls as Takings
      • 10.2.2. Eminent domain/inverse condemnation
      • 10.2.3. Constitutional challenges
    • 10.3. Zoning Principles
    • 10.4. Zoning and development proposals/PUDs
    • 10.6. Administration of land control uses
    • 10.7. Exclusionary
    • 10.8. Subdivision regulation
    • 10.9. Historical and environmental
    • 10.10. Preservation
  • 11. Land Sale Contracts, Mortgages and Deeds
  • 12. Recording System and Title Assurance
    • 12.1. Recording system
      • 12.1.1. Defined
      • 12.1.2. Common law priorities
      • 12.1.3. Recording statutes and 3 requirements
      • 12.1.4. Types of Recording Acts:
      • 12.1.5. Title mechanics of recording
      • 12.1.6. Recording outside the chain of title
      • 12.1.7. Instruments that are subject to the recording acts
      • 12.1.8. Recording Act protects parties
      • 12.1.9. Results of a failure to record
      • 12.1.10. Reforms in recording acts
      • 12.1.11. Inquiry Notice
    • 12.2. Title insurance - (with Deeds)
    • 12.3. Method of title assurance