Which term covers entry onto another's real property or interference with personal property?

• A. Personal property
• B. Private nuisance
• C. Interference with employment
• D. Trespass

Answer: (D)

Trespass is the tort that covers invasion of someone’s property rights—entering real property or interfering with another’s personal property. Entering someone’s land without permission is trespass to land, while taking, damaging, or otherwise interfering with movable property is trespass to chattels (personal property). This category doesn’t require actual harm to be shown for land trespass—even a simple intrusion counts. Interference with personal property fits because it involves directly affecting someone’s possession of movable items.

By contrast, private nuisance deals with indirect, unpermitted interference with the use or enjoyment of land (like ongoing noise or odors) rather than a direct entry or possession interference. Interference with employment isn’t a property tort, and personal property by itself isn’t the tort—trespass is the right term that encompasses both entry and possession interference.