ETHICS During the Great Recession, home foreclosures hit an all-time high. In many instances, banks ended up as landlords and property managers, a job for which they were ill-prepared. As a result, many homes were abandoned for long periods. Some people who knew a little bit about adverse possession decided to take advantage of this ancient common law doctrine: They shamelessly occupied vacant homes, claiming them as their own, changing locks, and purchasing electricity. The new residents argued that they were not hurting anyone and acting within the bounds of the law. In response, some states lengthened the time period necessary for adverse possession. Examine the squatters’ ethics. What do you think of their behavior? Does your opinion vary if the squatters were the home’s former owners? What if the banks were ignoring the home? What would Kant and Mill say?
