40th ALI-CLE

We were eagerly anticipating 40th American Law Institute-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference. The 2022 Conference in Scottsdale was one of the first meetings where everyone was back in-person (and was a smashing success), but that conference was early in the game so not everyone could or would attend. But in the past year most of us got back to some semblance of “normal,” and the turnout promised to be good.

We had record registrations: with over 300 attendees, faculty, and staff signed up, things were shaping up.

Plus, we were headed to Austin, Texas. The last time we held the Conference there in 2016, we loved it so much it has been in-demand for a return visit. And this year is the debut Conference for some new planning co-chairs for both the main tracks as well as the “Condemnation 101” tracks, so the buzz for the

Continue Reading Ice Ice Baby: A Report From The 40th ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference, Feb 1-4, 2023, Austin

LUI

Land users: come join us online for the 36th Annual Land Use Institute. Yes, the venerable program is back again, with the usual line up of dirt law experts covering all you need to know and bringing you up to speed on the latest. Here’s the description of the program:

This Annual Land Use Institute program is designed for attorneys, professional planners, and government officials involved in land use planning, zoning, permitting, property development, conservation and environmental protection, and related litigation. It not only addresses and analyzes the state-of-the-art efforts by government to manage land use and development, but also presents the key issues faced by property owners and developers in obtaining necessary governmental approvals.

This outstanding program features:

• Preeminent faculty of practitioners and academics who provide nationwide perspective without losing sight of state-specific issues.
• Critical review and analysis of the most important new cases;
• Practice-oriented discussion

Continue Reading We’re Remote, So It’s Easy To Join Us For The 36th Annual Land Use Institute

Screenshot 2023-01-28 at 11-23-31 Are zoning laws the cause of Hawaii’s housing crisis (Oahu)

Here’s your chance to spend some time with the author of one of the hottest land use and public policy books out there, Nolan Gray.

RSVP now (admission free, but space is limited) to join our Land Use class when we welcome Mr. Gray to respond to the question in the title of this post. Details:

Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Time: 5:30pm – 7:00 pm, Hawaii Time

Location: University of Hawaii Law School (2515 Dole Street, Honolulu), Classroom #3.

Cost: Free, courtesy of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

RSVP: You must register here to reserve your place in the room.

Parking: modest fee, available at the adjacent UH parking structure.

As we noted when we featured his book “Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It” (Island Press 2022) at the top of our dirt lawyer holiday gift guide recently, his work

Continue Reading Hey Honolulu, RSVP To Join Us: Nolan Gray, “Are zoning laws the cause of Hawaii’s housing crisis?” Feb 15 @5:30, U.H. Law School

We really want you there…

One (nearly) last reminder that there’s still time to register for your space at the 40th ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference, February 1-4, 2023, in Austin. In the past several years, we have sold out due to the conference room capacity and the conference hotel block. But there’s still space, although we are nearly full. So register now – don’t delay any further! 

Here’s the brochure with the complete agenda, schedule, and faculty listing. But to tempt you, here are some of the highlights of the program:

  • Everything Old is New Again: Why Today’s Practitioners Need to Understand the Original Meaning of the Takings and Just Compensation Clauses
  • When the SWAT Team Comes (No) Knocking: Police Power Takings
  • Private Utility Takeovers – Lessons From a 67 Day Trial

  • “Contraband”: How Property Rights Helped Pave the Way for Civil Rights

  • Valuation


Continue Reading (Nearly) Last Call: There’s Still Time To Join Us For The 40th ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference, Feb 1-4, Austin

A classically short opinion from the New York Supreme Court (Appellate Division, Fourth District) in HBC Victor LLC v. Town of Victor, No. 683 (Dec. 23, 2022). (So short that we were tempted to simply post the opinion and let you read it, because it will probably take you just as long to read our summary; but we’re up to the challenge of making our summary even shorter than the opinion, so here goes.)

The town wants to take property “connected to an enclosed regional shopping center known as Eastview Mall[.]” Slip op. at 1. Until Co-19, the property was occupied by a retail department store, but the store closed permanently in February 2021. The owner tried to get a new tenant, but unsurprisingly, that came up short.

Perhaps sensing an opportunity, the Town sought to condemn for redevelopment. But its resolution of taking did not specify what it

Continue Reading You Can’t Just Say “Redevelopment” – Take Now, Decide Later Isn’t A Public Use

Syllabus

Starting in January, we’ll be teaching the venerated, and oh-so-important Land Use course (Law 580) at the University of Hawaii’s Law School.

We’re at least temporarily stepping into some mighty big slippers (this is Hawaii, so we don’t always wear shoes), as this is the course that our mentor Professor David Callies taught for decades. And is there a better venue in which to teach and study land use law and regulation, and its limits? After all, Hawaii may be the most heavily-regulated land on the planet, and is a focal point for every issue you can think of, from zoning to environmental restrictions to takings to public trust to subdivision to admin law to … well, you get the drift.

We’ll cover those topics, as well as the fundamentals. And we have a few surprises up our sleeve – some impressive guest lecturers, explorations of dirt law careers

Continue Reading Hawaii 5-80: Land Use Law At The University Of Hawaii

Here it is, the official agenda and program for the 40th ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference, February 2-4, 2023 (with a special event the evening of Wednesday, February 1, 2023 to entice you to arrive early).

Screenshot 2022-11-18 at 13-35-13 ALI CLE PA NY VA TX FL Continuing Legal Education

Here’s the brochure with the complete agenda, schedule, and faculty listing. But to tempt you, here are some of the highlights of the program:

  • Everything Old is New Again: Why Today’s Practitioners Need to Understand the Original Meaning of the Takings and Just Compensation Clauses
  • Private Utility Takeovers – Lessons From a 67 Day Trial

  • Valuation Issues When Billboards and Signs are Condemned

  • Setting Client Expectations and Identifying Red Flags

  • Developing Property Right Issues in Texas – Questions and Answers from the Bench: A View From the Bench (with Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock)

  • Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings Updates: Important Decisions You Need to Know

  • Ethics:


Continue Reading Here’s The Program For The 40th ALI-CLE Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference, Feb 1-4, 2023, Austin

Screenshot 2022-09-13 at 14-12-11 Feed LinkedIn

One last reminder that there’ still time to register for the upcoming Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference at the William and Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, September 29-30, 2022. If you can’t make it to the historic campus, there’s an option to attend remotely.

In our opinion, the Conference is the best of its kind because it brings together legal scholars and the practicing bar to talk dirt law theory and practice. We also a have a full supplemental program for law students, that covers property law and careers in eminent domain law, a recruiting session, a program on international property rights, and a program on land use law.

Registration for the Conference is ongoing, and you can sign up here.

Here is the full agenda. (We’ll be speaking on Panel #2, “Reshaping the Framework Protecting Property Under the Roberts Court.”)

Come on, join us!

Continue Reading Still Time To Join Us (In-Person Or Remote) For The 19th Annual Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference

Here’s the latest in a controversy we’ve been following.

In 624 Broadway LLC v. Gary Housing Authority, No. 22S-CT-140 (Aug. 29, 2022), the Indiana Supreme Court held that the Authority failed to provide the property owner adequate notice that it would be taking its property as part of a redevelopment project.

The Gary Housing Authority wanted to redevelop 624 Broadway’s commercial property in downtown Gary into mixed-use residential. The Authority instituted an “administrative taking” under Indiana law, which is “an alternative to the ‘traditional’ lawsuit route” that “occurs when an authorized governmental body condemns property and awards damages through resolutions.” Slip op. at 2.

The administrative taking statute only requires notice to the property owner by publication. And that’s exactly the notice the Authority gave 624 Broadway. “It twice published notice of the resolution and upcoming meeting in two area newspapers of general circulation.” Id. Broadway’s agent found

Continue Reading Indiana: Before Taking Property, Condemnor Must Provide Notice Reasonably Calculated To Put The Owner On Actual Notice

IRWA

The International Right of Way Association‘s Real Estate Law Committee produces twice-a-year reports “which contain summaries of eminent domain decisions and legislation within the United States.”

And what is really nice is that they make the report available

We’re posting it here because we’re one of the co-authors. Hat tip to our co-authors Brad Kuhn, Jillian Friess Leivas, and Ajay Gajaria.

The report is short, and doesn’t contain a lot of fluff. Just what you wanted.Continue Reading IRWA’s Summary Of Major Eminent Domain Cases & Legislation (Jan-May 2022)