American land surveying has a dilemma; it's called the "pincushion corner." This is a name used to describe the phenomena of multiple boundary monuments being set by land surveyors when only one boundary corner exists under the law. The pincushion has not gone unnoticed by the legal profession and the general public. It is now common knowledge that no two surveyors can agree on the location of any given property corner. The pincushion is physical proof of that notion. Not only is the pincushion becoming a public relations disaster for the profession, it is causing those who might otherwise consider commissioning a survey to decide otherwise. And herein lies the dilemma; no one wants to hire the surveyor because of the way surveying is practiced, the pincushion being emblematic of that practice. This book explores the effect of the pincushion, how the phenomena started, why it exists, and remedies to end the practices that allow the pincushion corner to not only exist, but to flourish.

Illinois Boundary Law is the essential reference book for anyone who needs to understand real property boundaries under Illinois law. Written primarily for land surveyors, this book is also a valuable tool for real estate professionals, attorneys, and landowners. Arranged in eleven chapters, the subject matter includes the origination of real property title in the State of Illinois, how real property boundaries are established on the ground, deeds, conveyances, surveying systems, easements, and rights-of-way. Written in a similar fashion to a law school casebook, there are plenty of court opinions, excerpts from cases and citations to actual lawsuits involving boundary disputes, adverse possession, negligence actions, trespass issues and slander of title, to name a few. Cases from other jurisdictions have been included on points where Illinois' courts have been silent. This book is an intriguing read for anyone interested in the history and development of real property boundaries in Illinois.

The First Seminole War of 1816–1818 played a critical role in shaping how the United States demarcated its spatial and legal boundaries during the early years of the republic. Rooted in notions of American exceptionalism, manifest destiny, and racism, the legal framework that emerged from the war laid the groundwork for the Monroe Doctrine, the Dred Scott decision, and U.S. westward expansion over the course of the nineteenth century, as Deborah Rosen explains in Border Law. When General Andrew Jackson’s troops invaded Spanish-ruled Florida in the late 1810s, they seized forts, destroyed towns, and captured or killed Spaniards, Britons, Creeks, Seminoles, and African-descended people. As Rosen shows, Americans vigorously debated these aggressive actions and raised pressing questions about the rights of wartime prisoners, the use of military tribunals, the nature of sovereignty, the rules for operating across territorial borders, the validity of preemptive strikes, and the role of race in determining legal rights. Proponents of Jackson’s Florida campaigns claimed a place for the United States as a member of the European diplomatic community while at the same time asserting a regional sphere of influence and new rules regarding the application of international law. American justifications for the incursions, which allocated rights along racial lines and allowed broad leeway for extraterritorial action, forged a more unified national identity and set a precedent for an assertive foreign policy.

The classic reference, expanded and updated to include the latest technologies and laws This new edition of Brown's Boundary Control and Legal Principles — the classic reference to boundary law for property surveying—has been updated and expanded to reflect ongoing changes in surveying technology and surveying law. Professional surveying practices continue to evolve, and this Seventh Edition includes all the necessary information to navigate the complex, evolving area of boundary law. Improving upon its usefulness for both professionals and students alike, this Seventh Edition features: Updated case law and examples throughout Recent changes in boundary law New chapter on riparian and littoral boundaries by water boundary expert George Cole A new appendix listing surveying books referenced in court cases and legal decisions The latest innovations in surveying technology This must-have reference to surveying and geodesy features a wealth of case studies on federal and state nonsectionalized land surveys demonstrating real-world examples of covered material. Brown's Boundary Control and Legal Principles, Seventh Edition is an essential reference tool for professional surveyors studying for state surveying licensing, students, and attorneys in real estate and land law.