CTM Holdings LLC v. USDA
Farming family fights government’s illegal restrictions on their livelihood
Iowa attorney Jim Conlan grew up in a farming family, so when considering new investment options, reconnecting with his family legacy through agriculture was a natural fit. But Jim’s efforts to support this time-honored industry soon ran headlong into government overreach by regulators that lack his deep respect for farming’s critical role in sustaining lives and livelihoods—and for the Constitution’s property rights protections. Represented at no charge by Pacific Legal Foundation, Liberty Justice Center, and Upper Midwest Law Center, Jim is fighting back against the agencies’ abusive and improper use of government authority. His federal lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the Swampbuster statute to hold regulators accountable to the rule of law and restore private property rights for farmers and everyone else.
Green v. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Fishermen fight illegal fishing ban
In 2021, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation that banned commercial fishing across millions of acres in the fertile Georges Bank region of the North Atlantic Ocean, a devastating blow to New England’s iconic fishing industry. If the president can designate “ecosystems” and millions of acres of the ocean floor as “a national monument,” there is no meaningful limit on what the president can designate under the Antiquities Act. Nor is there any meaningful limit on how much “land” he can rope off from productive use.
White v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Feds ignore the Supreme Court to prosecute property owners
Robert White worked for many years to build a highly successful commercial seafood business in North Carolina. While he earned a good livelihood, he invested much of his earnings in coastal property as a way to ensure financial security for his children.But now Robert and his family face financial ruin due to a remorseless power grab by two federal agencies, even after they were unanimously rebuked by the Supreme Court. Represented at no charge by Pacific Legal Foundation, Robert is challenging the agencies’ illegal provisions in federal court to restore his own right to make use of his own land, and to ensure both agencies’ compliance and courts’ proper application of Sackett II.
United States v. Melton E. “Val” Valentine, Jr., et al.
Federal agency ignores the Supreme Court to prosecute landowners
No matter how strong its zeal to make an example of the Valentines and deter other landowners from pursuing similar development, the Army Corps cannot simply ignore a Supreme Court decision or assume enforcement powers it doesn’t have. Represented by Pacific Legal Foundation at no charge, the Valentines are now making a full-throated defense of their right to make productive use of their own land, and to ensure both agency compliance and courts’ proper application of Sackett II.
Heaton et al. v. Biden et al.
Ranching family fights President Biden’s Antiquities Act abuse
Chris Heaton is a sixth-generation landowner and rancher who embodies the rugged individualism, adventurism, and tireless work ethic of the American West. Chris’s land, family legacy, and rights have landed in the crosshairs of President Biden’s new national monument designation. Represented by PLF at no charge, Chris is fighting back with a federal lawsuit to rein in the president’s illegal land-grab, protect his property rights, and restore the rights of all Americans to earn an honest living.
Kansas Natural Resource Coalition v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Illegal rulemaking threatens livelihoods, conservation, and the rule of law
With their livelihoods and their constitutional rights on the line, Mr. Edwards, Lone Butte Farms, Schilling Land, JDC Farms, and the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition—an association of 30 county governments—are filing a federal lawsuit to hold the FWS to its obligations as intended by Congress and in a manner that respects private property rights.
Flying Crown Subdivision v. Alaska Railroad Corporation
Planes, trains, and property rights: battling government’s easement abuses
Represented at no charge by Pacific Legal Foundation, the subdivision’s homeowners appealed the lower court’s decision at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stop the Alaska Railroad from enshrining easement holders’ exclusionary powers at the expense of private property rights.
Williams v. California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Government’s regulatory Catch-22 threatens California’s future fishermen
Fishing is an ancient and noble profession. It is also unquestionably in Max Williams’ DNA. His grandfather and parents have deep roots in California’s fishing industry, their livelihoods built on decades of skill and success with gillnets—the set, passive nets that are best suited for commercial fishing in California waters. Max (second from the left in the photo) wants to follow in their footsteps. He’s worked on other gillnet vessels for several years and is ready to carry on the family tradition by captaining a fishing boat of his own. With savings of nearly every penny earned since he began working full time, Max bought, restored, and fully equipped his own boat, thus sealing his commitment to a fishing future.
Fehily et al. v. Biden et al.
President Biden reboots Antiquities Act abuse with commercial fishing ban
Now that Biden has resuscitated powers that far exceed what the Antiquities Act was ever meant to do, Pat Fehily and Tim Malley, a 50-year fishing veteran and vessel owner, are fighting back. Represented at no charge by PLF, they’re challenging this renewed violation of the Constitution’s separation of powers and threat to the right of commercial fishermen to earn an honest living.