FINAL EXAM QS: CHOOSE 3 of 4 • Q1: LAWYERING (What Legal & Factual Research….?) • Q2: SHORT PROBLEMS (Choose 3 of 4) • Q3: OPINION/DISSENT • Q4: TRADITIONAL ISSUE-SPOTTER
FINAL EXAM QS: CHOOSE 3 of 4
• Q1: LAWYERING (What Legal & Factual Research….?)
• Q2: SHORT PROBLEMS (Choose 3 of 4)
• Q3: OPINION/DISSENT
• Q4: TRADITIONAL ISSUE-SPOTTER
ASSIGNMENT IV
• Designed as Practice for Exam Q1
• Todo List, Not Solution
• Not Whole Problem; Stick to Issues Given
• QS?
SCOPE OF EASEMENT PROBLEMS• Review Problem A (Santa & Elves)
– Live Oak Arguments/Tuesday– Focus on 3 Blackletter Tests
• Review Problem B (Satellite Dish)– Mango Arguments/Wednesday– Focus on Chevy Chase, Marcus Cable & Note
Cases as Persuasive Authority
WED: RECORDING ACTS
with special guest appearances by
Elizabeth Taylor & Melissa Ortiz
DQ119 (ALL): S125 should be S150
Section F Barbecue
• Noon-7:00 pm Sunday
• Key Info on Course Page
• Check w Micki & Sasha for What to Bring
• Limits on Space & Parking
SECTION F SPRING COURSES• CONTRACTS (WIDEN) WF 8:00-10:00am• CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (JONES) TR 11:00am-
12:20pm• US CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I (IGLESIAS)
M2:00-3:20pm & TR3:30-4:50pm• ELECTIVE WF 11:00-12:20pm
1L SPRING ELECTIVES
• Administrative Law• Analysis of Evidence• Environmental Law• Family Law
• Housing Discrimination
• Labor & Employment• Social Justice
ELECTIVES: 1L Only v. Mixed
1L Only• Administrative Law• Analysis of Evidence• Family Law• Social Justice
MIXED• Environmental Law • Housing
Discrimination• Labor & Employment
ELECTIVES: Method of Evaluation
Final Exam Only• Administrative Law• Environmental Law
(Probably) • Labor & Employment
MIXED• Analysis of Ev. (Projects)• Family Law (Quizzes)• Housing Disc. (Assnmts)• Social Justice
(Projects/Short Papers)
ELECTIVES: Later Availability
CERTAIN• Administrative Law• Environmental Law• Family Law
NOT CERTAIN• Analysis of Ev. (Rare)• Housing Disc. (Maybe)• Labor & Empl. (Probable)• Social Justice (Rare)
1L SPRING ELECTIVES
• Administrative Law• Analysis of Evidence• Environmental Law• Family Law
• Housing Discrimination
• Labor & Employment• Social Justice
ELECTIVES: Career Focus
Criminal• Administrative Law• Analysis of Evidence• Social Justice
Business/Corporate• Administrative Law• Environmental Law• Labor & Employment
1L SPRING ELECTIVES
• Administrative Law• Analysis of Evidence• Environmental Law• Family Law
• Housing Discrimination
• Labor & Employment• Social Justice
IMPLIED EASEMENTS
• Easement by Estoppel
• Easement by Implication
• Easement by Necessity
• Easement by Prescription
Easements by Estoppel
featuring
POINCIANAS
Easements by Estoppel
An owner may be estopped from barring a 2d party access to the owner’s property where
1. The owner apparently allows 2d party to use the property
2. 2d party reasonably and detrimentally relies on this acquiescence
Easements by Estoppel
An owner may be estopped from barring a 2d party access to
the owner’s property where 1. The owner apparently allows 2d party to use the property
2. 2d party reasonably and detrimentally relies on this acquiescence
DQ113: Was the D’s reliance on the oral promise in Stoner reasonable? Was it detrimental?
DQ114: Policy Arguments re Easements by Estoppel: Common Concerns include
• Doctrine undermines Statute of Frauds • Claimants should make sure of legal rights
before relying on mere license. • Neighbors don’t typically commit all
arrangements to signed writings.
DQ114 & Note 2: Should states allowEasements by Estoppel …?
• Whenever there’s reasonable and detrimental reliance;
• Only after compensation paid; –OR–
• Never
Policy Arguments re Easements by Estoppel
Note 3: Nelson v. AT&T: Stronger or weaker case than Stoner for granting Easement by Estoppel?
Note 4: How Long Does an Easement by Estoppel Last?
Stoner: “For so long a time as the nature of it calls for.” What does this mean …
For an irrigation ditch?
N.4: How Long Does E by Estoppel Last?
Stoner: “For so long a time as the nature of it calls for.” What does this mean …
In the hypo in Note 4: House built in reliance on use of right of way, which created EbyE. House burns down. Can it be rebuilt using that right of way?
EASEMENTS BY IMPLICATION& NECESSITY
featuring
ROYAL PALM
Emts by Implication & Necessity
• Both Arise from Split of Larger Parcel– E-by-I: Parties Intend that Prior Existing Use
Should Continue– E-by-N: Split Creates Landlocked Parcel Needing
Access
• Same Facts Can Give Rise to Both
EASEMENTS BY NECESSITY:
1. One parcel is split in two2. Landlock: One resulting parcel is cut off
from key access (e.g. to roads) by other parcel (alone or in combination with parcels owned by 3d parties).
3. At time parcels split, access necessary to enjoyment of landlocked parcel
EASEMENTS BY IMPLICATION:
1. One parcel is split in two2. Prior Use of one part of parcel to benefit
another part (“Quasi-Easement”)3. Circumstances suggest parties intended
to continue prior use after split NOTE: STATES VARY ON PRECISE
FORMULATION
EASEMENTS BY IMPLICATION:
1. One parcel is split in two. At severance:
2. Prior use (Quasi-Easement)
3. Intent to continue prior use
4. *Apparent, visible or reasonably discoverable
5. *Some degree of necessity
* Some jurisdictions treat 4 & 5 as separate elements; some treat as evidence of intent
NOTICE: E-MTS BY IMPLICATION:
Need notice to bind subsequent purchasers• Actual Notice (Fact Q): Did buyer know about
easement?• Inquiry Notice (Legal Q): Sufficient info to
create duty in reasonable buyer to ask?• Usually can’t be notice from records b/c
implied.
NOTICE: E-MTS BY NECESSITY:
• In theory, also need notice to bind
• Court finding the easement necessary unlikely to find lack of notice.
Williams Island & Elements
• One parcel is split/ Prior use (Undisputed)• Intent to continue prior use: Evidence?
Williams Island & Elements
• One parcel is split/ Prior use (Undisputed)• Intent to continue prior use: Evidence?
– Testimony– References to “Easements” in Deed – Overall Circumstances
• Apparent, visible or reasonably discoverable?
Williams Island & Elements
• One parcel is split/ Prior use (Undisputed)• Intent to continue prior use• Apparent, visible or reasonably discoverable• Necessity: Court says yes; we’ll do later• Notice to Subsequent Purchasers?
Williams Island & Elements
• Notice to Subsequent Purchasers?– Court says both Actual & Inquiry
• Unusually good evidence of both intent & notice
Necessity Requirement
EASEMENTS BY IMPLICATION: • Usually reasonable necessity• Some states: strict necessity if implied by
reservation (Florida not)
EASEMENTS BY NECESSITY: • Most states: strict necessity
Implied by grant v. Implied by reservation
Parcel split into Eastacre and Westacre: Prior Use = Driveway from House on Eastacre across Westacre to main road.
• Original owner sells East, retains West = Grant• Original owner sells West, retains East = Reservation• Original Owner Simultaneously Sells Both to Different
People = Grant