When a new regulation makes life worse for commercial fishermen, those fishermen have little recourse—because fishing regulations come from a confusing, multi-layered combination of federal and state bureaucrats with little accountability to either voters or the president. That system is unconstitutional, and two Florida fishermen are challenging it in court.
Joseph Urbinati, William Gacioch, and Gerald Eubanks are fighting back against NOAA’s unchecked power grab to vindicate their rights, hold a powerful federal agency accountable to the rule of law, and restore the proper limits of NOAA authority as established by Congress.
Karen Bell and William Copeland both have deep ties to the fishing industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Karen was born into a multi-generation fishing family and after graduating college in 1986, she joined A P Bell Fish Company, a Cortez, Florida, commercial fishing, processing, and distribution company started by her grandfather in 1940. Some 80 miles up Florida’s Gulf Coast in the city of Port Richey, William lives and works as a commercial fisherman.
Thomas and Amy Villegas bought a patch of undeveloped property in Nebraska, intending to use the land’s robust mix of meadows, woods, and streams for hunting and other recreational activities. Now they are being pursued by a federal agency, not in a court of law, but within its own walls, under its own rules, and before its own employees acting as judges.
Raymond Lofstad and Gus Lovgren are both fourth-generation commercial fishermen running small-scale operations in the Mid-Atlantic. They’re asking a federal court to restore their right to earn an honest living without interference by an illegally formed agency and its equally unlawful regulation.
Pacific Legal Foundation filed the nation’s first lawsuit challenging the Education Department’s unacceptable abuse of executive authority to restore the rule of law and to enforce the Constitution’s separation of powers.
Maureen and John are challenging the Census Bureau’s overreach, so no Americans are ever again forced to choose between huge fines and their right to keep their personal information private.
The incredible recreational offerings of Hawaii not only are world famous, but they also represent a significant portion of the state’s economy. One activity that’s become popular over the past several decades is dolphin-watching tours and swimming with dolphins—specifically spinner dolphins. These social, acrobatic mammals have fostered valuable experiences for tourists and residents and have given rise to a thriving industry for boat captains, dolphin guides, and even therapists.
Duke Bradford grew up in Nebraska, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and had law school in his sights. But the pull of Colorado’s mountains where he skied once a year as a child was stronger. His two seasons as a snowmobile guide and ski patroller sparked the idea for a rafting company, and in 1998, Duke opened Arkansas Valley Adventures (AVA).