Articles

Making bad law for the rich will hurt the rest of us

October 20, 2017 | By JEREMY TALCOTT

Surfrider Foundation has been battling Vinod Khosla in the California courts for several years, trying to force him to allow the public to cross his private property and use his private beach. We’ve written before about the myths and realities of that dispute–of which there are many. In August, a unanimous court of appeal panel … ...

Articles

Weekly litigation report — September 30, 2017

September 30, 2017 | By JAMES BURLING

Government workers have another chance to declare independence! Supreme Court asked to restore Utah prairie dog conservation program—and constitutional limits on federal power Neither legislative bodies nor government bureaucrats can steal property National Forest lands should be accessible to all — not just a few hearty backpackers PLF ...

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Weekly litigation report — June 17, 2017

June 17, 2017 | By JAMES BURLING

Interior Secretary Zinke Recommends Bears Ears Reduction Indian River County School Board responds to public outcry, but continues to ignore First Amendment California Supreme Court protects private property Class Action action Florida family loses property rights’ case in Florida appellate court Telling truth to tort Supreme Court asks town ...

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CCC levies a $4.2m fine for blocking nonexistent staircase

December 09, 2016 | By JEREMY TALCOTT

  Dear Californians, this is your California Coastal Commission: willing to fine property owners over four MILLION dollars for blocking “public access” that doesn’t exist. Even to those who have spent years following (and fighting) the Coastal Commission’s brazen overreaching, this is downright appalling. Two years ago, ...

Articles

PLF enters Martins Beach access controversy

May 13, 2015 | By CHRIS KIESER

Should the public have the right to cross private property simply because it is next to a navigable water body? The California Court of Appeal may decide just that when it takes up the ongoing controversy over access to Martins Beach. As we have blogged about before, for decades the owners of the coastal property … ...

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Permit needed to keep trespassers off private property

September 25, 2014 | By PAUL BEARD

Yesterday, a San Mateo Superior Court judge issued a stunning tentative ruling in one of the two Martins Beach lawsuits pending against coastal landowner Vinod Khosla. The judge concluded that the decision to disallow the public to trespass onto private property–after allowing the public to do so for a fee–constitutes “de ...

Articles

PLF sues Coastal Commission for extortion attempt against family

October 12, 2010 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

Author:  Paul Beard II On Friday, PLF attorneys filed a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission—the State's worst abuser of property rights and of landowners who live and work in the State's coastal zone.  The case centers on the Commission's attempt to take a substantial public access easement from a ...