JACQUE v. STEENBERG HOMES, INC. Case Brief
Audio lesson available for this case
LSD+ subscribers can listen to a recorded discussion of this brief - the full facts, holding, and reasoning in audio form.
Complete case briefs with LSD+
Every LSD.Law brief pairs a full IRAC analysis with opinion summaries at three levels of depth, written by a team of Harvard Law and MIT graduates - a quick synopsis when you are pressed for time, the complete reasoning when you need to go deep.
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 company intentionally trespassed to deliver a mobile home after the landowners repeatedly refused permission. The court held that a jury’s award of $1 in nominal damages could support a $100,000 punitive damages award to protect the fundamental right to exclude others from private property.
Legal Significance: Establishes that for the intentional tort of trespass to land, punitive damages may be awarded without compensatory damages. This protects the landowner’s absolute right to exclude, recognizing that the trespass itself constitutes a harm worthy of punishment and deterrence, even without physical damage to the property.
JACQUE v. STEENBERG HOMES, INC. 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
Defendant, Steenberg Homes, Inc., sold a mobile home and determined the easiest delivery route was across land owned by the plaintiffs, Harvey and Lois Jacque. The only alternative was a difficult, snow-covered private road. Steenberg repeatedly asked the Jacques for permission to cross their land, but the Jacques adamantly refused, having previously lost land in an adverse possession action. Despite the clear refusal, a Steenberg manager instructed employees to deliver the home across the Jacques’ property anyway, stating, “I don’t give a —- what [Mr. Jacque] said, just get the home in there any way you can.” Steenberg’s employees then used a bobcat to plow a path through the Jacques’ snow-covered field and delivered the mobile home. The Jacques suffered no actual physical damage to their land but sued for intentional trespass. At trial, Steenberg conceded the intentional trespass. A jury awarded the Jacques $1 in nominal damages and $100,000 in punitive damages. The lower courts set aside the punitive award, citing precedent that required an award of compensatory damages.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Can an award of nominal damages for the tort of intentional trespass to land support a subsequent award of punitive damages?
Yes. The court held that nominal damages awarded for an intentional trespass 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
IRAC Legal Analysis
About IRAC analysis
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the structure professors expect in exam answers. Each LSD.Law brief states the issue, the governing rule with citations, the court's application of that rule, and the conclusion - the same reasoning pattern you will use on exams and in practice.
Legal Issue
Can an award of nominal damages for the tort of intentional trespass to land support a subsequent award of punitive damages?
Conclusion
This landmark decision solidifies the principle that the right to exclude is 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
Legal Rule
In an action for intentional trespass to land, an award of nominal Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna al
Legal Analysis
The court created an exception to the general Wisconsin rule that punitive 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 cup
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- In a case of intentional trespass, punitive damages may be awarded