Eminent Domain | Condemnation

Here’s another complaint (here’s the first) challenging a state’s business shut-down order as a taking. This time it is Colorado, and the complaint seeks an injunction and compensation.

Here are the highlights:

  • “As a result of the [shutdown] Orders listed above that restrict the gathering of more than ten people at a time,

Here’s the latest in a case we’ve been following. We even visited the site with our class last year. 

Today, the Virginia Supreme Court heard argument on the petition for appeal (streaming above from the webstream, or download the mp3 here) in what we call the oyster case because it involves the property

Well, here it is. What looks like the first complaint to be filed challenging a state governor’s order to shut down businesses to “flatten the curve.” 

The complaint seeks class action status, and raises section 1983, due process, and Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment takings claims. It seeks damages, compensation, a declaratory judgment, and, interestingly, an

The materials we were reading yesterday (particularly Steve Silva’s “History: Fire and Blood(worth),” got us to thinking. There, Steve wrote about the  September 2, 1666 London fire which destroyed 80% of the city, the government’s emergency powers, and compensation. He also brought up a subject we had not know of before: the subsequent

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It’s tough with all that’s swirling around all of us to keep focused on non-virus related things. But because we think that’s one way to keep calm and carry on, we shall continue to endeavor to do so. But come on, being takings and dirt lawyers we also can’t help viewing current events through

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Here’s one for our Hawaii folks, in case you all are curious about the origins of the analytical framework which courts use to review the legality of measures taken by the authorities in the name of “public health” that have an impact on the uses of private property.  

As far as we can tell, The

Torromeo Industries owned a 12-acre parcel zoned “Industrial.” Two buildings — one a home, the other a 4,000 square foot industrial building — were on the land. Sole access to the property way by a private driveway along the 149 foot frontage of the parcel. Industrial zoning has a minimum lot size of 80,000 square

The current headlines — and a couple of inquiries from colleagues and clients — got us to thinking about government power in times of crisis and the tension between that power and property and other individual rights. 

On one hand, court decisions going back over the centuries have told us that courts are reluctant to

Missed out on the 2021 ALI-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference swag?

Well fear not: here’s your chance to get your high-class reminder — a kit of road warrior essentials — to save the Conference date on your calendar. We’re already underway with planning the agenda and faculty, so it’s never too soon