Tariffs, Takings, and Les Mis
Two quick, but important scoops. First, the Court released its opinion in the highly anticipated tariffs case. Second, PLF is back at SCOTUS (baby!). The Tariffs Case: 170 Pages, Six Opinions, One Historic Result Last week the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the tariffs case, and wow. Historic. Nuanced. A 170-page opinion in all, even tho ...
Today’s oral arguments in Pung v. Isabella County
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Pung v. Isabella County, a lawsuit challenging a Michigan county's failure to provide just compensation after seizing and selling the Pung family home over a $2,200 tax debt that was never owed. Justice Sotomayor's remarks included a succinct summary of the case. "Justice Barrett very ...
Court lets surf school’s First Amendment challenge ride
Helina Beck has been trying to teach surf lessons on California's public beaches for years. On Tuesday, a federal court said her fight can continue, denying California's motion to dismiss her case and handing her a meaningful early victory in a fight over who gets to teach on shorelines that belong to all Californians. The ruling, issued Februar ...
Thoroughbred racehorse trainer filed a lawsuit in federal court to vindicate his Seventh Amendment rights
Horse training is in Phil Serpe's blood. He grew up volunteering at the Meadowlands Sports Complex and walking horses after school—and he has worked in the horse racing industry for almost 50 years, winning races in some of the country's biggest competitions. But in 2024, his successful career was scratched. The veteran horse trainer quickly f ...
Anchorage Daily News : The day the music lived
On a summer evening in Alaska, it's not unusual to want a drink while enjoying some entertainment — a local musician, maybe a screening of a classic summer movie like "The Goonies" or "Jaws." If you walk into a bar, you might be in luck. But until recently, if you walked into a brewery or winery, chances are you'd be out of luck. Not because t ...
The evolution of home equity theft : from Rafaeli to Pung
On February 25, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Pung v. Isabella County, the latest legal challenge to the practice of home equity theft to reach the high court. Pacific Legal Foundation's fight to end home equity theft began in 2015 and has already included a victory at the U.S. Supreme Court. But the Pung case presents a que ...
What can we expect as Pung heads to SCOTUS? Tyler’s oral arguments offer clues
On Wednesday, PLF heads back to the Supreme Court to continue the fight against home equity theft and protect property owners' right to just compensation. Pung v. Isabella County began with a disputed tax bill and ended with loss of a treasured family home and $118,000 in equity. Mike Pung was managing the estate of his late nephew, Scott, which ...
SEC strikes again, targeting a municipal securities advisor through unconstitutional agency hearings
This week, Matthias O'Meara and Choice Advisors, LLC filed an appeal with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking restoration of their right to be heard by an independent judge and jury. O'Meara founded Choice Advisors to help charter schools raise money by issuing bonds. The company's first two clients launched successful bond issuances, an ...
A full and perfect equivalent : Just compensation and the Fifth Amendment
In the autumn of 2025, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in the first case since the 1980s to address the amount of "just compensation" the government is required by the Constitution to provide when it takes private property. In Pung v. Isabella County, Michigan, the government confiscated a family's home for failing to pay a tax they were exemp ...