Look what arrived in the mail, a copy of the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law's recently-published Municipal Law Deskbook, edited by our friend and colleague, Oregon's Bill Scheiderich.
We received a gratis copy because we authored the chapter on Regulatory Takings. The book is designed as a quick reference guide for you muni law types who don't keep the entire set of McQuillin Municipal Corporations in your library, or for you non-muni law lawyers who want a handy reference guide when these issues come your way:
[The] Municipal Law Deskbook offer[s] legal guidance to municipal attorneys, private practitioners, city administrators, and educators. The book covers a full range of those issues that commonly arise in day-to-day local government administration and the content is intended for attorneys and nonlawyers alike. The chapters cover such topics as when and how federal laws and regulations preempt local legislation; how state freedom of information acts control local government meetings and record-keeping; the rules of ethical, transparent public purchasing and construction contracts; the basics of sources and uses of revenue; and those areas of local regulation that can constitute a taking of private property. The book also gives guidance on public employee labor law, on public employee rights under the U.S. Constitution as to freedom of speech on and off duty, rights against unreasonable search and seizure of personal property, and the consequences to the employer of a public employee’s wrongful acts. The book gives guidance on the proper form of intergovernmental agreements and interstate compacts, such as mutual aid for emergency services. The book closes with a chapter on preparing a record for the most common form of judicial review of a local government action, namely, a review based on substantial evidence, together with an essay by a trial judge with much experience in that field.The editor is William Scheiderich, a local government attorney in Oregon with over 30 years experience and the editor of the Section [of State and Local Government Law]’s publication on eminent domain. Chapter authors are from throughout the United States with notable experience in their fields of practice.
Not a bad price (for a law book) either: $72 for ABA members, $90 for non-members. Get yours here, in paperback, or in e-reader format if you prefer that.
