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 book and speaking with Mr. Mansfield a couple of weeks ago (here's the podcast with our interview), his book is about property, property rights, and how these ideas are processed by the American psyche. But instead of the usual scholarly (and very often dry) treatment of these topics that we might expect – especially those of us in the legal and academic world – Mr. Mansfield takes a slightly different approach. He relates stories of how property fits in with the culture – the different and often competing narratives that are attached to the notion of property – and the often-contradictory way in which we in the United States view the idea of ownership and possession.
A great gift for any dirt lawyer on your list.
You've read Kelo v. New London. You've read Jeff Benedict's behind-the-scenes book. You've played along with our casting speculations. You've listened to our interview with the film's producer.
Now you can own the DVD of the finished film, a dramatization of the infamous Kelo eminent domain case.
Here's one that every condemnation lawyer should love: wines from Oregon's Eminent Domaine vintner.
From their web site: "The name, Eminent Domaine, is a reflection of our experience with the legal term, eminent domain, our dedication to the Oregon wine industry and our love of the wines produced in our region. In 2002 the City of Portland cited eminent domain as reason for claiming an office building we owned downtown. We began negotiations, as we agreed with the intent of the law, which states that the property would be used for the public good in exchange for a price based on fair market value. However, when both qualifiers came into question, a lengthy legal process ensued. Despite having a more favorable outcome from arbitration, the compensation was low and the property was used for undisclosed purposes. Having been brought up on a small farm in Hillsboro Oregon, Jeff Meader always wanted to go back to the land. Already entrenched in Oregon’s wine industry and looking to the future, it was a natural progression to re-invest in a small piece of land in the coveted Ribbon Ridge AVA. In 2009, we set about planting the 7-acre parcel with selected Pinot Noir clones and harvested our first estate fruit in 2011."
This last one has been making the rounds of property lawyers and academics.
As a joke (we hope). But maybe not.
Yeah, it's a bundle of sticks. You know why. Apparently, a chi-chi online store was selling the above for $42. And it sold out. What P.T. Barnum said.
Charlie Brown got a bag of rocks for Halloween, and fear not, there are other places you can get a bundle of sticks for that property lawyer in your life.
I am sure they will appreciate it.
