Unit Summary: The Property System

Instructions and Information

The questions below provide you the opportunity to hone your legal skills and evaluate your knowledge of the legal topics covered in this module. Note, the textbook will help you answer these questions yet you may need to also do some research on your own. The librarians at Skyline College are here to help.

Resources

The California Code of Civil Procedure is a group of law passed by the California Legislature. Each individual law has a number. You can find them online. For example, to find section 318 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, you could search for this text: “California Code of Civil Procedure at Sections 318”.

Review Question for The Property System

Sammi lives in California and farms on a plot of land known as Shady Acres. Sammi sells most of the produce to local markets and saves some to eat. For many years the Brando family lived and farmed next door on Sunny Pastures. They also sold most of the produce to local markets. The only way to get to Sunny Pastures is by driving on the private road that goes through Shady Acres. Ten years ago, the Brando family left the country for vacation and never returned. Yet, they still hold title to the land. Five years later, Sammi told his wife, the postman, the bible study group at church, and the owner of the only market in town, “It’s a real shame that the Brando’s land is going to waste. I’m going to start farming on it. Sammi invested about $100,000 and earned a profit of $20,000/year for the next five years, which he deposited into the bank. In addition, Sammi has paid taxes on the land and the profits. Three years ago, Sammi received a letter from the Brando’s lawyer. It said, “If you don’t stop farming on the Brando’s land, I am going to have the sheriff evict you.”  Sammi did not stop farming. The sheriff did not show up. Today, Sammi has filed for ownership of the land following the procedures in the California Code of Civil Procedure at Sections 318 and 325. At the hearing, the Brando’s lawyer shows up, accuses Sammi of trespassing and asks that he be arrested and demands that he pay rent on the land. Will Sammi win title to the land?