Property Cases and Materials - 5th Edition - Smith

A Fresh Take on Property Law: Property: Cases and Materials, Fifth Edition ISBN: 9781543838947

The fifth edition of Property: Cases and Materials, authored by Jim Smith, Ed Larson, and newly joined by Alejandro Camacho, redefines the study of property law by integrating contemporary issues with foundational doctrines.

Without compromising coverage of classic topics, this edition introduces cutting-edge subjects, such as the Public Trust Doctrine and the intersection of Race and the Law, ensuring that students engage with both historical principles and the pressing legal challenges of today.

This single-volume casebook offers a sweeping exploration of property law, spanning from traditional concepts like estates in land and servitudes to evolving areas such as intellectual property, cultural property, and rights over living things.

Thought-provoking discussions challenge students to grapple with fundamental legal questions, including the origins of property, the treatment of information as property, the tension between individual and collective rights, and property’s connections to broader legal frameworks.

The casebook’s in-depth treatment of intellectual property demonstrates how legal doctrines evolve in response to social and technological shifts.

Property Cases and Materials, Fifth Edition ISBN: 9781543838947

Featured Cases

This edition presents an array of significant cases that illustrate property law’s dynamic nature, including:

• Marshall v. ESPN Inc. – Examining student-athletes' publicity rights
• Bonnichsen v. United States – Addressing Native American human remains and cultural property
• Glass v. Goeckel – Clarifying the scope of the Public Trust Doctrine
• Friends of Danny DeVito v. Wolf – Exploring property rights and governmental restrictions during COVID-19
• Dred Scott v. Sandford – Investigating the role of race in historical property law decisions

Property: Cases and Materials Smith ISBN: 9781543838947

What’s New in the Fifth Edition?

• A groundbreaking new chapter, "Race and Exclusion in the Property System," delves into how race, power, and legal structures have shaped property rights in the United States.
• Expanded discussion of the Public Trust Doctrine, which has become an essential legal tool for environmental conservation in many states.
• Unparalleled inclusion of twenty-first-century cases, making this casebook the most up-to-date among its peers.

Why Choose This Casebook?

• Comprehensive yet concise – Covers core real property principles while incorporating modern debates, making it the most compact major property casebook available.
• Engaging and thought-provoking – Encourages students to critically analyze the evolution of property law from multiple perspectives.
• Adaptable for any course – Chapters stand independently, allowing instructors to tailor the material to their teaching approach.
• Clear guidance for students – Transitional and explanatory notes help students grasp the significance and implications of cases and readings.

Teaching Support

Instructors will benefit from a robust Teacher’s Manual, providing insights and resources for effectively engaging students with the material.

This latest edition ensures that both students and professors experience property law as a living, evolving discipline—one that not only preserves its foundational principles but also responds to the urgent legal and social questions of our time.

Property: Cases and Materials, Fifth Edition ISBN: 9781543838947