Does permission from the current occupant affect trespass claims against another property owner?

The correct answer emphasizes that permission from the current occupant does not protect against claims by the true owner of the property. A person who occupies land has rights over that property, but those rights are limited in scope when it comes to the actual ownership. The true owner retains the right to exclude others from their property regardless of any permission given by the occupant.

In a trespass claim, the focus is on the rights of the property owner. If someone enters another’s property without permission, even if that entry was granted by a current occupant, the true owner can still file a trespass claim. This reflects the fundamental principle that property rights are tied to ownership rather than occupancy.

By contrast, the other choices either misrepresent the nature of property rights or the legal implications of permission given by an occupant. Some choices suggest that permission eliminates claims entirely or only applies in specific contexts like public versus private disputes, which oversimplifies the complexities of trespass law. Overall, understanding the distinction between an occupant’s permission and the owner's rights is crucial in assessing trespass claims.