Yesterday, the Court of Appeals of Virginia issued an important decision regarding two often troubling elements under Virginia law regarding proving a claim of adverse possession....more
The Supreme Court of Vermont (“Supreme Court”) in a May 24th opinion addressed issues stemming from a dairy farm’s installation of a drain tile system that discharged water into a streambed and lake allegedly affecting a...more
In Long Lake Township v. Maxon, the Michigan Supreme Court had the opportunity to critically consider the extent to which property owners have an inherent right to prevent unwanted drone incursions into the airspace...more
Briggs v. Southwestern Energy Production Company, LLC is good news for Pennsylvania mineral owners bringing claims for subsurface trespass by fracking. In 2018 in “Briggs 1”, the Briggs family sued SWN for subsurface...more
In our recent article, we explored how to pre-empt and prevent anticipated trespass on your land through injunctions. But what do you do when it’s too late for that, and your property has been occupied by trespassers or...more
New York Supreme Court (“Supreme Court, Appellate Division”) addressed in a March 15th Memorandum and Order (“Order”) issues arising out of a common law judicial action filed by a real estate developer against a landfill. ...more
In Wolverhampton City Council and others v London Gypsies and Travellers and others, the Supreme Court has confirmed that injunctions can be imposed to prevent “newcomers” from occupying land unlawfully. That means that...more
Injunctions against “persons unknown” have recently garnered much attention, being deployed in both traditional scenarios such as to prevent traveller groups trespassing on land, and also against protestors or urban explorer...more
Fletcher v. Merritt resulted in several rulings on the proof required to prevail in a property dispute. Merritt filed a trespass to try title suit (actually a quiet title, which the court construed as TTT) against Fletcher...more
Trespassing, in common parlance, means entering and /or staying at a person’s property without the permission of such person. Meaning of Trespassing- Like in many other jurisdictions, trespassing is also an offence under...more
Last week, in The Seaview at Amagansett, Ltd. v. Town of East Hampton Justice Paul J. Baisely, Jr. found the Town of East Hampton and several of its officials in civil and criminal contempt of the Appellate Division, Second...more
Most easements are created by a recorded instrument. Not so with one of the more exotic species of easement — the “equitable easement.” A case recently published by California’s Second Appellate District — Romero v. Shih...more
A trespass by way of encroachment occurs when a building, structure, or other “thing” (as opposed to person or animal), goes beyond the boundaries of the owner’s land onto adjoining land without the permission or consent of...more
The rule in Texas (and other states) is that setting a booby trap is permissible if and only if the facts are such that the property owner could have used same force and inflicted the same injury had he been present in...more
In a premises liability case, the landowner’s standard of care is determined by the category of entrant. Post v. Lunney, 261 So. 2d 146, 147 (Fla. 1972). See also ARP v. Waterway E. Assoc., Inc., 217 So. 3d 117, 120 (Fla....more
Indiana, like every other State, has adopted a Right to Farm Act to “reduce the loss to the state of its agricultural resources by limiting the circumstances under which agricultural operations may be deemed to be a...more
As we head into another election cycle, several CGA members have asked about their rights with respect to unwanted signature gatherers and other solicitors. We’ve heard many stories about belligerent signature gatherers who...more
The concurrence and dissent in Briggs et al v. Southwestern Energy Production Company appears to be of little help to property owners complaining of trespass by fracking where there is no invasion of frack fluids on to the...more
Herein, highlights from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Briggs, et al. v. Southwestern Energy Production Company. The rule of capture applies to oil and gas produced from wells completed using hydraulic fracturing and...more
Releasing an image of a pickup truck closely resembling I.M. Steelin’s, Texas Parks and Wildlife investigators believe a red stag deer was shot by I.M. Steelin over the Thanksgiving weekend. The exotic, tame, breeding, red...more
How Philadelphia’s new ordinance for dealing with ‘criminal and defiant trespassers’ offers recourse for investors and property owners - For years, Philadelphia-focused investors have been frustrated, and sometimes...more
The Rule of Capture has been a foundational concept of oil and gas prospecting for 150 years. The Rule of Capture exists to provide an affirmative defense to drillers when they tap into oil and gas pockets that cross property...more
Supreme Court Sides with Property Owners; Companies have No Right to Get Natural Gas Without Permission - "The Supreme Court said, 'A mineral owner or lessee has an implicit right to use the overlying surface to access...more
Nan Wallace experienced cracks in the walls, foundation and chimney of her residence, which she believed were caused by blockage in a stormwater pipe that flowed beneath her driveway and garage and into her backyard. ...more
From abandoned tube stations and former WW2 bunkers to cranes and skyscrapers, it seems barely a week goes by without a news story (or Instagram post) appearing showing an urban explorer in an area once thought of as...more