For 800 years, property law had trudged along, a relic of feudalism that even Henry VIII couldn’t kill off completely. But then along came Willard v. First Church of Christ, and—poof—centuries of common law got tossed out like last week’s leftovers. California, ever the trendsetter, decided that a random third party could now waltz in and claim a seat at the easement table. So much for the sanctity of property rights. It’s as if the legal system looked at tradition and said, “Nah, we’re good. Let’s make things more confusing.”