Articles

Facts matter in a constitutional challenge

July 17, 2013 | By CHRISTINA MARTIN

This week, PLF filed an amicus brief asking the Texas Supreme Court to review Patterson v. City of Bellmead.  The Pattersons are challenging a law that requires a kennel permit for any property owner that has more than four cats or dogs on any single parcel of land.  The Pattersons lost their case after the Texas … ...

Articles

Can states use licensing laws simply to prevent competition?

August 21, 2013 | By TIMOTHY SANDEFUR

In 2008, PLF attorneys won an important victory for the constitutional right of entrepreneurs to earn a living without unreasonable government interference. In that case, Merrifield v. Lockyer, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that while states can use licensing laws to protect the general public from fraud or from dangers to public health, ...