We like dictionaries. A couple of them have treasured spots on our bookshelf. But we’re not all that keen on courts relying upon dictionaries to define statutory terms, because our experience is that one word could have many meanings, and just because one dictionary defines a word a certain way doesn’t rule out other meanings.
New Jersey: When Designating Blight, Baby Can Be Tossed Without First Showing The Bathwater’s Dirty
A few years ago, in Gallenthin Realty Development, Inc. v Borough of Paulsboro, 191 N.J. 344 (2007), the New Jersey Supreme Court held that in order to target property for redevelopment as “blighted,” the government must show that it is in such condition that it “negatively affects surrounding areas” by promoting conditions that can develop
Go Shopping, It’s Hawaii’s Good Friday Holiday
Today is Good Friday, an official state holiday in Hawaii, so we’re reposting our annual recounting of how it came to be that the State commemorates the date of the crucifixion, and how that squares with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Turns out that it doesn’t really. It’s just coincidence that the “spring
New Law Review Article Worth Reading: “Through a Glass Clearly: Predicting the Future in Land Use Takings Law”
It’s not often that we say a law review article is a “must-read.” But this one definitely is, especially for all you regulatory takings mavens: David L. Callies, Through a Glass Clearly: Predicting the Future in Land Use Takings Law, 54 Washburn L. Rev. 43 (2014). A pdf of the article is posted here
New Cert Petition: Property Owner Should Not Be Limited To “Whispering” Anti-Eminent Domain Message
As we hoped it might, the Norfolk, Virginia property owner — represented by the Institute for Justice — who was on the losing side of the Fourth Circuit’s 2-1 recent opinion in Central Radio Co. Inc. v. City of Norfolk, 776 F.3d 229 (4th Cir. Jan. 13, 2015) has filed a cert petition.
Recent California Court Of Appeal Regulatory Takings Opinion Should Be Published
Here’s the letter request which we sent today to the California Court of Appeal, Second Division, asking the court to publish its recent opinion in Brost v. City of Santa Barbara, No. B246153 (Mar. 25, 2015). In our post about the case, we wrote “we hope there’s a motion to publish and that the court
HAWSCT Provides Guidance: How To Submit Attorneys’ Fees Applications That Get Approved
How Are They (I Mean *We*) Going To Pay For Honolulu’s Rail?
The short answer: taxes.
[Update #1: a report from last night’s community meeting, “Railing Against Honolulu’s $6 Billion Rail Project” (“Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his top transit official took their licks from a decidedly anti-rail crowd during a boisterous town hall meeting at Washington Middle School on Wednesday.”
Update #2: “
Pacific Business News Details The Rail’s Impact On Honolulu Property
The cover story in Pacific Business News‘ recent edition, “Honolulu rail transit’s eminent domain” is worth reading. Most importantly, the PBN staff created maps which show how much property is targeted for acquisition, and where it is located, precisely. Yes, the full story is behind a partial paywall, but as we said
Amici Brief: Property Owners Have Right Of Direct Access To Highways That Can’t Be Regulated Away
Here’s the amici brief on behalf of Central Oregon Builders Association, Oregonians in Action, and Owners’ Counsel of America in a case being considered by the Oregon Supreme Court, State of Oregon v. Alderwoods (Oregon), Inc., No. S062766.
In an eminent domain action to improve Highway 99W in Tigard, Oregon, the DOT condemned Alderwoods’