BLOG: Court Decisions
New Supreme Court Ruling on COVID-19 Case – Police Power Trumps Freedom of Religion
On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court issued a terse Order and decision denying a California church’s request for relief from the Governor’s 25% occupancy restriction on church attendance. The Court split 5-4. The Chief Justice issued the majority opinion and Justice Kavanaugh issued the dissenting opinion. The majority’s rationale – federal courts should defer to... Read More
Oregon Shutdown Order: Vacated and Reinstated in One Day
Another State’s Executive Orders – this time in Oregon – rode a judicial seesaw yesterday. Earlier in the day, Baker County Circuit Court Judge Matt Shirtcliff issued an opinion and preliminary injunction which declared that all of Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Orders were “null and void”, and therefore enjoined enforcement of several orders entered... Read More
NJ’s Latest Shutdown Challenge – Gun Clubs Try to Force Reopening
An association of gun clubs filed New Jersey’s latest challenge to Governor Murphy’s shutdown orders this week in U.S. District Court, asserting that their gun and rifle ranges should be permitted to reopen. The lawsuit, filed on May 12, seeks injunctive relief, requesting that the Court order the “immediate reopening” of their facilities, which have... Read More
Wisconsin Supreme Court: No Need to Stay at Home Any More!
Late yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a 161-page opinion striking down Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ “stay at home” Executive Orders, marking the first-known high court victory for challengers to the shutdown orders issued by Governors and other executives around the country. The 4-3 decision was lauded by local Republicans and small business owners as... Read More
Shipyard Associates Wins Big Against Hoboken
Hoboken zoning ordinances have recently taken center stage in a landmark legal battle that has significant implications for urban development in this vibrant New Jersey City. The case of Shipyard Associates v. Hoboken highlights the critical role that zoning regulations play in shaping the landscape of our urban areas and the delicate balance between development... Read More
On Blueberry Hill – Property Owner Seeks Injunction from US Supreme Court
Not very sexy to sing ‘I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill Public Golf Course & Lounge’, but these are strange days indeed. The name of the case is actually “Friends of Danny DeVito v. Tom Wolf” but if I were the property owner’s lawyer I would have led with Blueberry Hill…. I digress. This... Read More
Property Rights Trampled by COVID-19
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida just denied a temporary injunction to a group of beachfront property owner’s suing to enjoin a governmental Order that temporarily and totally denied their use and enjoyment of private property. The Order denied access to the owners private beach. If you have 5 minutes,... Read More
Town Looks Gift Horse in Mouth – Gets Bitten
NJSEA v. Kearny A recent Appellate Division decision affirmed a trial judge’s award of just compensation concerning the taking by a State agency of a municipal landfill in Kearny. The award matched the amount of the condemning agency’s appraisal, and both the trial and appellate court’s rejected entirely the municipal property owner’s theory of value. ... Read More
Owner’s Verdict Potpourri of Condemnation Valuation Principles
Last month, the a New Jersey appellate court affirmed a $3,000,000.00 verdict rendered by a Camden County jury for the taking of an eight story 80,000 s.f. building in Camden City Center. The full text of the opinion is here: Estate of Rubin v. Camden Parking Authority. The Parking Authority appealed arguing the owner’s valuation... Read More
Federal Appeals Court Rules PennEast Cannot Haul State into Federal Court for Pipeline Takings
We may be late to the party, as there has already been a lot of publicity over this decision, but thought we would add a few lines for our readers. The Circuit Court immediately explained that the District Court granted PennEast “orders of condemnation and preliminary injunctive relief for immediate access to the properties.” Slip... Read More
