Here’s the merits brief in a case we’ve been following (naturally, because it is one of ours). This is Sheetz v. El Dorado County, the case which asks whether a condition on development (aka an “exaction”) is exempt from the close nexus and rough proportionality standards of Nollan/Dolan/Koontz simply because the exaction is imposed
Municipal & Local Govt law
Here’s The Program For The 41st ALI-CLE Eminent Domain And Land Valuation Litigation Conference, Feb 1-3, 2024, New Orleans
Here’s the brochure and the full agenda and registration information for the upcoming ALI-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference at the JW Marriott in New Orleans, February 1-3, 2024.
This is the long-running nationally-focused conference on all things eminent domain, takings, valuation, and related. We have three tracks, from which you can …
New Takings Ripeness Cert Petition (Ours): One Variance, Two Variance, Three Variance…More?
Here’s a takings cert petition, filed yesterday.
Because this is one of ours, we’re not going to comment much beyond reposting the Question Presented, and to let you know this one is about how the “relatively modest” requirement that the government have taken some “definitive position” about what uses are allowed and what uses …
Alabama: Banning Short-Term Rentals Is Constitutional (PS – “the Alabama Constitution does not recognize regulatory-takings claims”)
A quick one from the Alabama Supreme Court. In Dixon v. City of Auburn, No SC-2022-0741 (Oct. 27, 2023), the court rejected a property owner’s claim that the city outlawing short term rentals of residential properties — when the plaintiff had been renting his basement for a while — was not a violation of …
CA9: No Physical Commandeering In Eviction Moratorium Because Yee Says “You Let The Tenants In, So You Can’t Complain About Keeping Them (For Free)”
A short one from the Ninth Circuit on a topic that we keep revisiting, whether the various eviction moratoria adopted and enforced by the feds and many states and local governments during Co-19.
We keep revisiting the topic because the courts keep getting it wrong.
And before we go on, a disclosure: this is…
Links And Materials From “Inverse Condemnation & Paying for Disasters”
Yesterday, during the Annual Meeting of the Hawaii State Bar Association, we participated in a program sponsored by the Real Property and Financial Services Section, “Inverse Condemnation & Paying for Disasters.”
As you can see above, we joined lawprofs Shelley Saxer and David Callies to share thoughts about inverse claims, and the difference…
CA10: Absence Of Restrictions On Land Uses Isn’t A Due Process Property Right
In Van Sant & Co. v. Town of Calhan, No. 22-1190 (Oct. 13, 2023), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit considered the claim of the operator of a mobile home park who asserted a due process property right to instead use its property as a RV park. Here’s why the court…
Fifth Circuit Kicks Down The SWAT Takings Door (And Boots The Issue Upstairs)
Here’s the latest in a case and an issue we’ve been following.
Recall that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas concluded that the City of McKinney, Texas was liable for the taking of Vicki Baker’s home, after city police officers destroyed a large part of it while apprehending a suspect…
Supreme Court Property Rights Round-Up
Here’s what we’re reading about the Supreme Court’s property rights docket — some good, some disappointing — this day.
- Niina Farah, “Supreme Court flooding case could ripple across the energy sector“ (E & E News / Energywire) – About the Devillier case (which we summarized here), in which we were
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ALI-CLE’s Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference (Feb 1-3, 2024, New Orleans): Why Attend? Here’s Why.
Why is it, you ask, that the ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference (scheduled next February 1-3, 2024, in New Orleans) is an event that seems to be growing in popularity and attendance. In recent years, we have standing room only in the Conference halls, and have sold out the hotel block.


