What is keeble v. hickeringill?

Keeble v. Hickeringill is an English common law case decided in 1707. The case involves a dispute between two individuals over the right to shoot wildfowl on a pond. Mr. Hickeringill set up a decoy pond on his property to attract wildfowl for hunting. However, Mr. Keeble, who owned a neighboring property, built a bank around his own pond to create a sanctuary for wildfowl and prevent them from being hunted by Mr. Hickeringill.

In response, Mr. Hickeringill began shooting his gun in the direction of Mr. Keeble's pond, scaring away the wildfowl and thus damaging Mr. Keeble's enjoyment of his property. Mr. Keeble sued Mr. Hickeringill for damages, claiming that his neighbor's actions were a nuisance.

The court found in favor of Mr. Keeble, ruling that Mr. Hickeringill's actions constituted a nuisance. The court held that a property owner has the right to protect and maintain their property and enjoyment of it, and that deliberately interfering with another's property rights is not permissible. The ruling in this case established an important precedent in property law, reinforcing the principle that property owners have a right to prevent interference with their property rights.