Here’s one that’s been a long time coming (or coming back, more accurately).

In this recently-filed cert petition, the issue is whether an “exaction” imposed by the legislature should be subject to the nexus and rough proportionality requirements of Nollan, Dolan, and Koontz, or is merely subject to rational basis review (i.e., no review at all). 

The last time this issue was presented to the U.S. Supreme Court after the California Supreme Court concluded that an exaction imposed by the City of San Jose wasn’t really and “Exaction,” and was only a land use regulation (as if the label matters), the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider the issue. Now its back, by way of what looks like a very tight “vehicle” for the Court (the Maryland Court of Appeals decided the issue squarely under federal law). 

Here’s the single Question Presented by Dabbs v. Anne Arundel

Continue Reading New Cert Petition: Legislatively-Imposed Exactions Subject To Nollan-Dolan-Koontz?

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Here are the cases and other items I either spoke about or mentioned at today’s Transportation Research Board‘s 57th Annual Workshop on Transportation Law in Cambridge, Massachusetts:


Continue Reading Links And Materials From Today’s Transportation Research Board Session

After the Supreme Court’s decision in Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 544 U.S. 528 (2005), whether a government action “substantially advances a legitimate state interest” — for a long time assumed to be a takings question under Agins — found a new home in the the Due Process Clause.  

Here’s the recently-filed cert petition, asking the Court to review a ruling by the Washington Court of Appeals

Questions Presented:

A Jefferson County, Washington, ordinance requires that all shoreline property owners dedicate, as a condition on any new development permit, a 150-foot conservation buffer purported to protect the marine environment from impacts like storm water runoff. The legislative record, however, contains findings that the government could not determine the need for, or the effectiveness of, a buffer without first considering site-specific factors and the specific development proposal.

The questions presented are:

1. Whether property rights are fundamental rights, such

Continue Reading “New” vs “Old” Property – New Cert Petition Asks, Is Right To Use Property “Fundamental?”

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We’re in Detroit the rest of the week at the Mercy Law School for the venerable Land Use Institute, now in its 32nd iteration.

Planning Chair Frank Schnidman has assembled a great faculty including out Detroit colleague Alan Ackerman (above, talking about takings liability for flooding), and we’ll be spending the time talking inverse condemnation, public trust, planning law, homelessness, autonomous vehicles, affordable housing, RULIPA, and similar topics. We’ll be presenting on “Eminent Domain, Vested Rights, and Regulatory Takings,” “Client Representation: Developer, Government, and Citizens Groups,” and “Federal Laws Affecting Local Land Use Decision Making.” 

If you are here with us in Detroit, stop by and say hello. If you aren’t here, shame on you! This is one of the best and most affordable tuition deals in CLE.

But all kidding aside, if you are not in Detroit now, be sure to calendar these

Continue Reading Land Use Institute – Detroit

Space is filling up, but there’s still time to join us later this month in Detroit for the 32nd Annual Land Use Institute (April-19-20). 

We’ll let program Planning Chair Frank Schnidman explain all the reasons why, and we’ll add only these points: (1) it’s a very good program that won’t take much of your time (fly in for the Thursday afternoon program, stay a night, fly home on Friday evening); (2) Detroit is the place to be these days; and (3) it’s one of the best deals in CLE credits, with tuition as low as $400.

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Continue Reading There’s Still Time To Join Us In Detroit: 32d Annual Land Use Institute

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This fall, I’ll be teaching a new course at the William and Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Here’s the description of Property Rights: Law and Theory (Law 608) from the course catalog:

Property rights and property theory have been essential components of Anglo-American law for centuries, and the protection of the right of private property ownership is one of the foundations on which the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the post-Civil War Amendments are built. In more recent times, however, property law has taken on a new role, and has been viewed differently than in the past, especially in light of the development of environmental law and the evolving concept of public trust.

Property Rights Law and Theory will focus on the history, policy, and, to some extent, the politics of property law, property rights, and related legal topics. We will examine how the right of

Continue Reading The Paper Chase Is On!

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Mark your calendars, plan to come: Detroit, April 19-20, 2018. For what is perhaps the best deal in CLE (tuition as low as $400), the 32d Annual Land Use Institute, sponsored by our section of the ABA, the Section of State and Local Government Law.

The venue is the Detroit Mercy School of Law, and the conference hotel is the historic Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit. The Land Use Institute is being held in conjunction with the Section’s Spring State and Local Law Conference. Register for one conference, and you are free to move between sessions (no additional registration fees).

Planning Chairs Frank Schnidman and Dean Patrica Salkin have assembled an excellent faculty and program for the two days. Topics include: “Nuts and Bolts of Land Use Practice: Vested Rights and Regulatory Takings,” “Public-Private Partnerships,” “Climate Change and Resilient Development,” “Client

Continue Reading 32nd Annual Land Use Institute: Detroit, April 19-20, 2018

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We’re on our third day at the 2018 ALI-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Conference in Charleston, SC, and as usual, we’re having our headline presentations by takings guru Michael Berger (pictured above), who is updating us on the most interesting and important cases of the past year, and Jim Burling, who will be answering the question, “Should We Rethink Regulatory Takings Law? The Takings Clause, Privileges and Immunities, and Due Process.”

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Here are links to the

Continue Reading ALI-CLE Eminent Domain Conference, Third Day: Berger And Burling On Takings

Our upcoming American Law Institute-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference in Charleston, South Carolina has SOLD OUT our in-person registrations. 

We will have a record attendance (with over 100 first-time attendees) and the conference hotel has informed us that we can fit no more people in the meeting rooms. We cannot remember this happening before, but it tells us that we will have an energizing and exciting conference. 

Thank you to all of you who signed up and are coming or joining in online for the webcast — we’ll see you soon at the “four corners of the law.”

And if you delayed too long in registering, please don’t despair. You can still attend from home or the office because ALI has set up a live webcast of the sessions. Go here for more on how to sign up to attend by webcast.

And stay

Continue Reading ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Conference – In-Person Registration SOLD OUT (But You Can Still Join By Live Webcast)

35th Annual Advanced Course

Logo_150pxEminent Domain and
Land Valuation Litigation

Live Program | Video Webcast | Video Webcast Segments

Thursday – Saturday, January 25 – 27, 2018
Francis Marion Hotel | Charleston, SC

Do not miss this popular conference! Intended for all eminent domain and land use practitioners, both experienced and those new to the practice. You can even customize the unique curriculum to work for you: freely go between the Advanced and 101 tracks, with additional tracks for Practice and Substantive law.

With a faculty of national experts who offer both condemnor and property owner perspectives, this is the big program, and the one you don’t want to miss.

Recognized and experienced professionals representing the diverse stakeholders in these cases will discuss the issues hitting your desk today or in the future, including:

  • Overlap of condemnation and regulatory takings: Murr and other blurred lines
  • Takings and damaging by flood


Continue Reading ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Conference – There’s Still Time To Join Us In Charleston