California retiree prepares for second Supreme Court battle
In April 2024, California retiree George Sheetz celebrated a rare legal milestone: a unanimous ruling in his favor by the U.S. Supreme Court. George sued his county government years prior after it refused to issue him a building permit until he paid a fee to fund future county traffic projects. Initially, California courts dismissed his claim, r ...
Nebraska court greenlights challenge to one-size-fits-all disability care mandate
When a Nebraska agency tried to force every disability care provider in the state to use a single, costly training program, a company called Integrated Life Choices refused to let it go unchallenged. On Wednesday, their principled stand won validation from the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska, which denied the State's motion to dismissâ ...
Graffam, Ballentyne, BFP, and Pung : When auction prices fall short
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in PLF's case Pung v. Isabella County. At its core, the case is about home equity theft and the Fifth Amendment's promise of just compensation. The Constitution says that when governments take your home to satisfy a tax debt, they can take only what is owed to them and are required to return the ...
Florida is leading the next nuclear revolution
Across the country, energy demand is rising. Data centers, advanced manufacturing, population growth, and electrification are all putting new pressure on the grid. Unfortunately, that has spilled over and is now also putting pressure on your wallet. If Florida wants to lower electricity costs and attract continued investment, the state needs to ...
Federal court hands Florida property owner a major win in fight to protect his beach
For two decades, Leslie Daniels has owned a beachfront home in Palm Beach, Florida. His property includes a sandy beach parcel—land he holds title to, pays taxes on, and uses for family gatherings. For most of that time, the Town of Palm Beach agreed the beach was his. Town maps labeled it private. Police enforced trespassing laws on it. Official ...
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 ...