Adverse Possession: a Bloodless Coup

One concept that is intriguing under property rights is squatting. Squatting represents a non-economic way for people to parts of their rights. Depending on the applicable laws, a squatter can acquire property rights by simply occupying vacant land for an extended period of time. Today we sit down with Professor Larisa Katz to discuss the concepts of property and adverse possession. Professor Katz explains what is adverse possession, compares it to a bloodless coup and describes how adverse possession could impact everyday citizens.

Professor Larisa Katz currently holds the Canada Research Chair in Private Law Theory. Prior to joining the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in 2013, Professor Katz clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada, worked in litigation at Sullivan & Cromwell and taught at Queen’s University, Faculty of Law. Professor Katz writes about moral, political and social issues relating to private law generally and property law in particular. Her work has been published in journals such as Yale Law Journal, University of Toronto Law Journal, McGill Law Journal and the Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence. Professor Katz also actively works on issues in law and policy in Canada and the United States. She has presented to and consulted for the Department of Justice and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on aboriginal title and the idea of property in law.

Production

Tony Yin – Producer, Host and Editor

Pro Bono Radio is part of the Queen’s chapter of Pro Bono Students Canada. The Pro Bono Radio team are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice.

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