Agenda

Registration:                        7:30 – 8:00 am

Morning Session:                8:00 – 11:15 am

Lunch (On your own):         11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Afternoon Session:             12:15 – 5:30 pm

Understanding Utility Easements and Rights of Way 
K. Silcocks

   Current law on utility rights of way
      – State laws and regulations
   Types of utilities affected
      – Electric, water, natural gas, telecommunications, communications
   Basis for and definition of the easement
   Encroachments and interferences 
   Maintenance
   Condemnation law 
   Current issues involving utility easements

 

Defining Trespass and Adverse Possession 
K. Silcocks

   Defining trespass and required elements 
   Defending against a claim for trespass
   Reviewing the history of adverse possession
   Maintaining a claim for adverse possession
      – Elements of a claim 
      – Statute of limitations
   Defending against a claim for adverse possession
   Examining recent trespass and adverse possession cases

Locating Land Boundaries on Paper (And on the Ground)
W. Coleman

    Interpreting land descriptions
      – Metes and bounds
      – Lot and block
      – Do’s and don’ts for writing descriptions
   Applying principles of boundary location
      – Collecting and evaluating all types of boundary evidence:
           documents, physical evidence, people, surveys
      – Locating the described land on a map
      – Locating the described land on the ground
      – Understanding and using geographic information systems (GIS)
   Solving land description and boundary location problems

Resolving Boundary Disputes 
W. Coleman

   Types of boundary disputes
      – Adverse possession, easements, boundaries
   Obtaining and reviewing boundary evidence 
   Methods for establishing disputed boundaries
   Participating in dispute resolution techniques
      – Litigation, arbitration, mediation, agreements, title insurance
   Examining boundary dispute case studies: exploring techniques for resolving sample disputes

Understanding Riparian and Water Rights
W. Coleman

   History and development of riparian rights
   Determining land boundaries near the water line
   Determining access rights to surface waters
   Determining rights to groundwater
   Complying with regulations restricting access to and use of surface water and groundwater

 

Identifying, Classifying and Locating Easements 
J. Harrison

   What is and is not an easement
   Reviewing state law on easements
   Creating easements: easements by necessity, easements by use, written easements
   Identifying critical distinctions between easements in gross, 
      easements appurtenant and prescriptive easements
   Maintaining easements
   Knowing when and how to terminate easements
   Obstructing use of easements and determining remedies for obstruction