Toby Prince Brigham
November 24, 1934 - March 19, 2021
We haven't posted in a few days, because we've been busy with a sad but important task - traveling to Miami to pay our respects to a true giant in the field of property rights and eminent domain, Toby Prince Brigham.
After a long and legendary life and career, Toby left us last month.
The accolades you know: constitutional lawyer, founder of Owners' Counsel of America, one of the namesakes of William and Mary Law School's Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Project, the essential man in the Brigham three-generation property rights "dynasty," the person who boosted and promoted others around him, a committed advocate for his clients who never lost sight of the lawyer's essential role as a champion, and a mentor who treated you like a valued colleague.
But maybe you didn't know the "other" Toby: a gentleman in every sense of the word, the guy who would seek you out in the back of the room and introduce you around, the bastion and role model of an extended and loving family, a man whose seemingly-endless optimism and positivity could not help but catch on. Someone who lived his values and beliefs. The owner of that unforgettable smile.
So farewell, Toby, and vaya con Dios, good servant. Know that all the traditions you started and lived out daily will continue. When we think of you -- which we shall do frequently -- we will think not only of the great lawyer, but the wonderful man.
Here's his obit from the Miami Herald:
Nationally prominent constitutional lawyer, Toby Prince Brigham, passed away peacefully in his Miami home on March 19th.Toby was a proud Miami native and graduate of Coral Gables High School. Upon graduation from Yale University and the University of Florida School of Law, Toby worked in his father's general law practice on Brickell Avenue for several years. He then decided to specialize in property rights work and founded Brigham Moore, ultimately building Florida's largest, and one of the nation's most respected eminent domain and property rights law firms. Over the years, Brigham Moore represented thousands of private owners affected by governmental take-overs and in cases where land-use regulation effectively confiscated private property. In a media interview years ago, Toby said that "eminent domain is our calling...we view property rights as civil rights." He was committed to the ideas that property rights promote freedom by dividing sovereignty and are vital to the enjoyment of other civil liberties. Out of this professional passion, he founded Owners' Counsel of America to promote excellence in property rights defense nationally. In honor of his storied career, an endowed property rights conference and law journal bearing his name reside at the William & Mary School of Law.Toby was equally passionate about his faith and family. He was devoted to his wife of 54 years, Kathleen "Kay" Brigham, and their four children who survive them: Edward John Prince Brigham, Amy Brigham Boulris, Andrew Prince Brigham, and Timothy Prince Brigham, along with their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Toby lived out his Christian faith, personally and professionally, through remarkable grace and generosity. He is remembered by many for his leadership, kindness, and infectious smile. Much of his striving in life was to reflect God's grace to him. Toby is now reunited with his Lord, his precious wife Kay, and their loving parents.A memorial service celebrating Toby's homecoming will be held on Saturday, April 10th, 11:00 a.m., following a musical prelude, at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, 14401 Old Cutler Rd, Palmetto Bay, FL 33158. Seating will be limited to 300 persons. A video livestream will also be available starting at 10:00 a.m.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Toby's honor to the following: Old Cutler Presbyterian Church (https://ocpc.churchcenter.com), Brigham Kanner Property Rights Conference (https://law.wm.edu/giving/waystogive/index.php), or the Pacific Legal Foundation (https://pacificlegal.org/donate).To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
