Constitutional Law › Election & Politics Law › Residential Real Estate

Update: After Rehearing, Court Of Appeal Upholds Its Previous Parcel Tax Ruling

The court of appeal recently upheld its previous ruling that a parcel tax approved by Alameda Unified School District (“District”) voters violates the Government Code’s restriction that special taxes apply “uniformly to all...more

SCA 3 Proposes Constitutional Amendment To Lower Voter Approval Requirement For Parcel Taxes From Two-Thirds To 55 Percent For...

SCA 3 seeks to amend the California Constitution relating to taxation by amending Section 4 of Article XIIIA, adding Section 4.5 to Article XIIIA, amending Section 2 of Article XIIIC, and amending Section 3 of Article XIIID,...more

Eminent Domain News from the State Capitol

Multiple bills regarding the power and exercise of eminent domain, both generally and by common carriers, have been filed during the current Texas legislative session. Below, please find a list of those bills with a brief...more

Past CFPB actions may portend fate of mortgage rules

Following the invalidation of three presidential “recess” appointments to the NLRB by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in Noel Canning v. NRLB, theories continue to swirl about the fate of Director Cordray....more

Iligan v. Ungacta

Motion For Leave To File And Brief Of Amici Curiae The National Federation Of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center;...

One of the biggest dangers of not providing adequate constitutional protections for private property is that public officials can misuse their power to take property for private gains. Government actors, after all, have an...more

Condemnation Changed (Permanently?) In Virginia

On November 6, Virginia voted by a nearly 3-1 margin to amend the state constitution and drastically change eminent domain law. The constitutional amendment may ultimately be the source of quite a few unintended consequences...more

Voting on 11 Amendments to Florida's Constitution: Analysis Available, Future Property Tax Revenues Will Be Impacted

Florida has 11 proposed amendments to its state constitution, some of which will impact Florida's real estate industry directly while others may have more of an indirect impact on real estate development and investment here. ...more

This Week in Washington - September 28, 2012

In This Issue: - DOMESTIC POLICY MATTERS - Budget. On Saturday, the Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) Continuing Resolution (CR), which now awaits the President's signature. The CR makes continuing...more

Can Cities Use Eminent Domain To Seize Mortgage Loans? [Video]

July 19 (Bloomberg Law) -- Almost 24% of homes with a mortgage in the United States are underwater, meaning that more is owed on the loan than the property is currently worth. A new company known as Mortgage Resolution...more

Substantial Justice in Eminent Domain Proceedings: The New Date of Valuation for Privately-Owned, Public Utility Companies By:...

Originally published in the Mississippi Bar Litigation Section Newsletter - May 2012. In 2011, amid much fanfare, Mississippi voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative to amend the Mississippi Constitution to...more

For Investors There May Be a Brighter Side to the “Robo Settlement”

Further to Phil Stein’s post on Friday, as we continue to parse through the political rhetoric, the fine print of the settlement agreement, and the hoards of misinformation promulgated by the press, we do not believe that...more

Proposed Constitutional Amendment on Eminent Domain: Cons and Pros

The proposed eminent domain constitutional amendment is pending at the 2012 Virginia General Assembly.  See 2012′s bills on the amendment, HJ 3 and SJ 3.  If these...more

CEQA Mitigation On Conservation Easement Lands: How a Plea to Legislators Killed a Threat to Farmers’ Property Rights (For Now)

Shortly before the close of the last legislative session, I found myself writing a strongly-worded letter (on behalf of myself and interested clients of Miller Starr Regalia) to Governor Brown, the authors of proposed SB 436...more

Six Years of Separation: Life After Kelo

It has been just over six years since the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark takings ruling in Kelo v. City of New London. The court's widely publicized and mostly criticized ruling found that the City of New...more

HR Files Lawsuit Challenging Redevelopment Bills

Two weeks ago we filed California Redevelopment Association v. Matosantos, an original writ proceeding in the California Supreme Court challenging a two-bill package in which the Legislature first eliminated California's 400...more

Financial Services Regulatory Reform Update - April 4th, 2011

With the looming deadline of Friday April 8th quickly approaching, Congress needs to pass a federal budget this week or else the government will have to shut down because of a lack of funding. Negotiations are ongoing...more

Local Tax Developments: "All Power Is Inherent in the People," BUT

In a recent case most interesting for its discussion of political powers "inherent in the people," the Commonwealth Court has upheld an en banc Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas decision invalidating the tax referendum...more

Four New Jersey Bills Seek To Change How Government Condemns Real Estate, As U.S. Debate On Eminent Domain Continues

On January 12, 2010, the New Jersey State Legislature introduced four bills that indicate an intention to change eminent domain practice in the state. These bills are anticipated to help eliminate issues that have accompanied...more

Hawaii, et al., v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, et al.

Brief Amicus Curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation, The CATO Institute, and The Center for Equal Opportunity In Support of...

In the 2000 case of Rice v. Cayetano, the Supreme Court held that a race-based scheme allowing only statutorily defined "Hawaiians" to vote for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs's trustees was unconstitutional. Despite Rice, and...more

In re Timothy Ryan

Petition for Writ of Mandamus

On May 10, 2008, respondent City of El Campo, Texas (the City) will hold an election to fill three at-large city council seats. Among the seven candidates for the three positions are relator Timothy Ryan and non-party Jimmy...more

Eminent Domain - Part 2 of 4: Step-By-Step Guide to the Condemnation Process in Oklahoma by Jeff L. Todd

This Article first appeared in Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation, February 22, 2008. Initial Proceedings The Oklahoma Legislature has enacted public policy guidelines that must be followed by any "person, acquiring...more