The Katko vs Briney Case: Property Law and Human Life

In 1928, a woman named Katko set a spring gun trap

in her abandoned farmhouse to catch burglars. When a trespasser named Briney broke

in, the gun fired, shattering his leg. Briney sued, and here's the

twist that changed property law forever. The court ruled in favor of the burglar.

Yes, you heard that right. The judges declared that human life,

even a criminal's life, holds more value than property. You cannot use

deadly force to protect an empty building. This case still echoes today when

we debate smart home security systems and automated defense mechanisms. Ring doorbells and