Often, the dispositive question in many takings cases tuns on whether the plaintiff owns “property,” and if so, what rights does that recognize. If you define the property in such a way that ipse dixit excludes the “stick” the owner claims was taken, then the answer is always going to be no property, no taking.
Environmental law
Recording Now Available In Virginia Supreme Court Oral Arguments In Takings, Property, And Public Trust Case
We listened live last week, but the court has now made the recording available in Johnson v. City of Suffolk.
This is what we call the “oyster takings” case in which Nansemond River oystermen claim that their property was taken when the City of Suffolk and the Sanitation District dumped sewage into the…
Virginia Supreme Court Oral Arguments In Takings, Property, And Public Trust Case
Here’s the latest in a case we’ve been following even before its inception (last semester, our William and Mary class visited the site and witnessed the oyster operation affected – see video above), Johnson v. City of Suffolk.
This morning, the Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case, and we livestreamed it…
Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference Videos Now Available
In case you missed any part of it: the recordings of the recent 2020 Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference are now available.
Go here for the descriptions of the panels, speakers, and links to the recorded sessions.
This year’s conference, held on October 1-2, opened with the Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Prize being awarded to Professor…
In Which We Return To The Pendulum Land Podcast To Talk “Snakes on a Plane,” Eminent Domain Songs, And What Might Be Virginia’s First True Regulatory Takings Case
In between talking about eminent domain-y songs, the goofy cult film “Snakes on a Plane” (yes, we really do have a cast-signed poster of that film in our office), and other fun stuff, we returned to the Pendulum Land Podcast for part II of our guest spot, where we also discussed Virginia …
Earthquake In Ohio: The Jury Should Decide Lucas And Penn Central Takings After State Shut Down Injection Wells For Causing Earthquakes
What place do you think of when you hear the word “earthquake? Most likely California, we’re betting.
And it’s also very likely that you didn’t think “Ohio.”
Well, that’s probably what everyone involved in the Ohio Supreme Court case State ex rel. AWMS Water Solutions, LLC v. Mertz, No. 2019-0493 (Sep. 23, 2020) thought…
Breaking: News About The 2021 ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference (Jan. 28-29, 2021)
News just in: we’ve just received confirmation that the Conference will not be in-person in Scottsdale in January 2021, and we’re going online.
Not a big surprise, but still a bit disappointing, and it’s a shame that the circumstances won’t allow us to meet in-person to talk shop and to renew our friendships like we…
No Shortage Of Amicus Support For Takings Cert Petition (Lucas and Penn Central!)
A short while ago, we featured the cert petition in a case from the Big Island that we’ve been following as various pieces of it went up and down through both the state and federal court systems. See “New (Mike Berger) Cert Petition: ‘This case is the proverbial ‘Exhibit A’ of much that is …
Utah: As Long As A Taking Is For The Birds, Not The Enviro Plaintiffs, It’s A Public Use
In Utah Dep’t of Transportation v. Coalt, Inc., No. 20161063 (Aug. 17, 2020), the Utah Supreme Court dealt with a public use and a just comp issue.
The first is perhaps the more interesting. After a federal court upheld environmentalists’ challenge to the Environmental Impact Statement prepared by UDOT for its Legacy Parkway Project…
Michigan SCT: Flint Takings Plaintiffs Alleged Unique Property Injuries, And That’s Enough To Survive Summary Judgment
There’s a lot going on in the Michigan Supreme Court’s opinion in Mays v. Governor, No. 157335 (July 29, 2020). After all, the case involves claims for personal and property damages resulting from the Flint (Michigan) water crisis. That’s an issue we’ve been following that has also grabbed national headlines.
But if you…



