Connection lost
Server error
Katko v. Briney Case Brief
Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs
Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A property owner set a spring-gun trap in an unoccupied farmhouse, severely injuring a man who broke in to steal antique jars. The court held the owner liable, finding that deadly force cannot be used to protect property when there is no threat to human life.
Legal Significance: This case establishes the fundamental torts principle that the value of human life and limb outweighs the value of property, prohibiting the use of force likely to cause death or serious injury to defend property alone, even against a criminal trespasser.
Katko v. Briney Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Defendants Edward and Bertha Briney owned an uninhabited farmhouse that had been repeatedly burglarized over a ten-year period. Frustrated by the intrusions, they set a 20-gauge shotgun as a spring gun in a bedroom. The gun was secured to a bed and rigged with a wire from the doorknob to the trigger, aimed to fire at the legs of anyone opening the door. No warning of the device was posted. Plaintiff Marvin Katko, aware the house was unoccupied, broke in with a companion to steal old bottles and fruit jars he considered antiques. When Katko opened the bedroom door, the gun fired, striking him in the right leg and causing severe, permanent injuries. Katko subsequently pleaded guilty to larceny. At trial for his injuries, the jury found for Katko, awarding him $20,000 in compensatory and $10,000 in punitive damages. The Brineys appealed, arguing the use of a spring gun was justified to prevent unlawful entry and theft.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: May a property owner use a mechanical device capable of inflicting death or serious bodily injury to protect unoccupied property against a trespasser engaged in a felony?
No. The judgment for the plaintiff is affirmed. An owner of premises Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse ci
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
May a property owner use a mechanical device capable of inflicting death or serious bodily injury to protect unoccupied property against a trespasser engaged in a felony?
Conclusion
Katko v. Briney is a foundational case in tort law that solidifies Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut e
Legal Rule
A possessor of land is not privileged to use force intended or Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in
Legal Analysis
The Supreme Court of Iowa affirmed the trial court's judgment, grounding its Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidat
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A property owner may not use a spring gun or other