You might think from the caption of the Hawaii Supreme Court’s opinion in In re Contested Case Hearing on the Water Use Permit Application Originally Filed by Kukui (Molokai), Inc., No. SCOT-17-0000184 (Dec. 10, 2018), that, oh boy, we were about to get yet another pronunciation on Hawaii’s water law from the court.
Robert H. Thomas
Our 2018 Dirt Lawyer’s Holiday Gift Giving Guide
Do you have “giver’s block” about an appropriate present this holiday season for that special dirt lawyer in your orbit? Well fear not, here are our modest suggestions for stocking stuffers.
Start with this one, Howard Mansfield’s recently-published book “The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down.” As we discovered after reading the…
Ninth Circuit: Inverse Condemnation Plaintiff Must “Share The Pain” – City Can Shed Obligation To Pay Just Compensation In Bankruptcy, Which Is “Purely A Monetary Claim”
Today’s post is long, but, we think, worth the investment of your time.
Bankruptcy is the way to get rid of debt. Plaintiffs who have sued the debtor but who have not reduced the lawsuit to a judgment are unsecured creditors. Unsecured creditors for the most part, go to the end of the payment queue…
CA11 Adds To Circuit Split: Private Pipeline Condemnor Can Get Immediate Possession, Even Though Natural Gas Act Doesn’t Delegate Quick Take Power
Here’s the Eleventh Circuit’s opinion in a case that adds to a circuit split (CA7 vs others) about whether a private condemnor, exercising the delegated federal power of eminent domain for a pipeline corridor under the Natural Gas Act, can obtain pre-judgment possession of the property, even though the NGA does not delegate the power…
CA6 Joins The Growing Circuit Split On Natural Gas Act Immediate Possession Injunctions
As we just detailed, the Eleventh Circuit joined the Third and Fourth (contra the Seventh) Circuits in concluding that a lack of Congressional delegation of quick take power to private pipeline condemnors in the Natural Gas Act does not stand in the way of a federal district court issuing an injunction to affect immediate pre-title…
Link’s From Today’s Eminent Domain Conference (Scottsdale)
A very good and active crowd for today’s Eminent Domain Conference (CLE International) in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was good to visit with some old friends, and also to get to meet some new colleagues.
Our talk focused on national trends, and this year’s most interesting condemnation and takings cases. Here’s the links to the cases…
Knick’s Supplemental Reply Brief: Injury To Property Triggers Right To Come To Federal Court
Here’s the final brief for Ms. Knick, replying to the Township’s and the Solicitor General’s supplemental letter briefs.
It’s very short, so you should read it yourself. But here’s what we think is the highlight:
Williamson County is irreconcilable with the traditional view that a Takings Clause claim accrues (and is actionable in federal court)…
End Of The Term For Law 608: Eminent Domain And Property Rights
With the first snow of the season beginning to fall in Williamsburg, today was the final day of classes at the William and Mary Law School. Which means that my time serving as the inaugural Joseph T. Waldo Visiting Chair in Property Rights Law is beginning to wrap up. There’s still the reading period, exams…
In Federal Pipeline Takings, Does The State’s Law Of Just Compensation Govern?
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently heard oral arguments (stream above, or download the mp3 here), in a case involving an issue we briefed recently in another circuit: whether state or federal law governs the determination of Just Compensation in federal court Natural Gas Act takings.
Now, you might…
Township’s Supplemental Brief In Knick: This Is A Statutory, Not Constitutional, Issue
Here’s the third (and final) supplemental letter brief in Knick v. Township of Scott, No. 17-647 (which is set for reargument before the Supreme Court next month).
Of course, you should not be surprised that the Township disagrees with both Ms. Knick’s arguments, as well as the SG’s supplemental brief, and…


