Ruda v. San Luis Obispo
Californian homebuilders challenge City’s housing exactions
Represented at no cost by Pacific Legal Foundation, Ruda, Knauer, and Zarnegar filed a lawsuit arguing that the City can’t make housing more affordable by making it more expensive to build—and that it can’t fine property owners for problems they didn’t create.
Leslie Daniels v. Town of Palm Beach
Palm Beach homeowner fights back after town declares his private beach is public
Leslie Daniels filed a federal lawsuit challenging Palm Beach's actions as an unconstitutional taking of his property and a violation of his First Amendment right to post signs on his own land.
Flying T Ranch, Inc. v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
Ranching family asks Supreme Court to secure access to court in property dispute
The Blakeys, like all American citizens, have a right to access the courts to resolve property disputes. They filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case. The petition asks the Court to overturn the lower court decision holding that tribal governments have absolute immunity to quiet title actions, thereby barring the Blakeys from resolving their property dispute in court.
BAS, LLC, et al. v. Tommy Land
California brothers challenge Arkansas’ claim that states can take private property without paying
Sovereign immunity is not the silver bullet the State of Arkansas claims. Under decades of legal precedent, the government’s constitutional obligations to citizens qualify as “waivers” of sovereign immunity, meaning citizens do not have to wait for the government to give them permission to sue over a violation of their constitutional rights. These “waivers” include the government's obligation to pay you when they take your property.
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services v. Reddy
Homeowner stands up to government agency’s demand that he destroy seawall
Represented by Pacific Legal Foundation, Rom filed an appeal with the South Carolina Court of Appeals to challenge the agency’s attempted power grab. He argues that the DES cannot claim power to act outside the scope of its jurisdiction and asks the court to overturn the agency’s demand that he destroy his seawall.
SW Nashville EB Owner, LLC v. Metro Government of Nashville, et al.
Nashville business sues local government for “land banking” property through endless permit delays
Rather than pay for the land it wants, the government tried to keep the property available for its own future use for free by locking SW Nashville into an indefinite building moratorium. Years later, the government continues to refuse to issue permits, just in case it wants to seize the land in the future. Now, SW Nashville is on the hook for over $8.2 million—and counting—in taxes and maintenance fees for property it cannot use or sell.
Carol G. Edwards v. City of Altamonte Springs, Florida, et al.
Florida retiree fights City’s $250,000 fine for allegedly “unpermitted” dock that was approved 30 years prior
The City violated Carol’s constitutional rights by imposing hundreds of thousands of dollars in still-accruing fines without due process or the opportunity for appeal. Represented at no cost by Pacific Legal Foundation, Carol Edwards is filing a federal lawsuit against the City of Altamonte Springs for violating her constitutional rights by imposing excessive fines without a jury trial.
Wilmer Chavarria v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Vermont school superintendent challenges policies permitting warrantless search and seizure of electronic devices at the border
Americans don’t surrender their constitutional rights as the price of international travel. CBP policies that claim to give its employees the power to search and seize electronic devices without a warrant violate the Fourth Amendment and therefore should be set aside.
Michael Pung v. Isabella County
County seizes family home over tax bill that was never owed
The Supreme Court will decide whether Scott Pung’s heirs are entitled to the equity they had in their longtime family home.