News & Events

April 25th, 2013 — In News & Events

OCA Files Amicus Brief in “Rails to Trails” Takings Case Seeking Review by the U.S. Supreme Court

The Owners' Counsel of America (OCA) has filed an amicus brief in support of the landowner in Brandt v. United States (12-1173) urging the United States Supreme Court to review the decision of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeal and resolve a "circuit split" concerning whether the United States has a reversionary interest in railroad rights of way crossing privately-owned lands under a 1875 Congressional Act.

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April 22nd, 2013 — In News & Events

Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference Celebrates A Decade of Success in Promoting Exchange Between Legal Scholars and Members of the Bar

The 2013 Brigham-Kanner Conference will take place October 17-18 at William & Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Virginia. The 2013 Conference marks ten years that members of the bench, bar and academia have come together to explore recent developments in takings and property law and discuss the importance property rights plays in American society.

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April 16th, 2013 — In News & Events

New Journal of Law and Courts Debuts with a Discussion of the Link Between SCOTUS Takings Jurisprudence and Ideology

The University of Chicago Press and the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association has published the inaugural volume of the new Journal of Law and Courts (JLC). The JLC is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal covering a wide-range of topics devoted to the examination of legal institutions, actors, processes and policy.

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April 10th, 2013 — In News & Events

10th Annual Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Prize Recipient Announced: Columbia Prof. Thomas W. Merrill

William & Mary School of Law recently announced that Columbia Law School Professor Thomas W. Merrill will receive the 2013 Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Prize at the 10th annual Brigham-Kanner conference October 17-18, 2013, in Williamsburg, Virginia.

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April 3rd, 2013 — In News & Events

Alabama’s New “Jobs” Law: Two Steps Backward For Property Rights

Last month Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law SB96, titled the "Major 21st Century Manufacturing Zone Act." The law allows any Alabama city to create a “manufacturing" tax increment financing, or TIF, zone for a number of industries including automotive, aviation, medical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, computer, electronics, energy conservation, cyber technology and biomedical but requires any municipality wishing to create a TIF zone under the law to invest...

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March 26th, 2013 — In News & Events

Proposed Legislation Seeks to Amend New Jersey’s Redevelopment Law Limiting the Abuse of Eminent Domain

New Jersey has taken one step forward toward updating its redevelopment laws and enacting legislative protections for private property owners. Earlier this month the New Jersey Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee advanced legislation that would be the first update to the state’s eminent domain laws since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005), in which the Court ruled...

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March 22nd, 2013 — In News & Events

Saint Augustine Property Owners Prevail in Bert J. Harris Appeal with Nation’s Oldest City

The Owners’ Counsel of America applauds a recent appellate victory for Florida property owners and congratulates its Florida Member, Andrew Brigham, and his clients.

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March 6th, 2013 — In News & Events

Montana Legislature May Repeal 2011 Law Giving Private Utility Companies Eminent Domain Powers

Last week the Montana Senate passed a bill repealing a 2011 law that provided the power of eminent domain to private utility companies constructing merchant transmission lines. Senate Bill 180, sponsored by Senator Debby Barrett (Rep.), passed the Senate with a vote of 28-22 and was sent to the House on February 27.

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February 28th, 2013 — In News & Events

Three New Directors Elected to Serve on OCA’s Board of Directors

The Owners' Counsel of America has elected three accomplished eminent domain attorneys to serve on its board of directors for 2013: James D. Masterman, a shareholder in the Boston, Massachusetts office of Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Charles L. Ruffin, a shareholder in the Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC offices in Atlanta and Macon, Georgia: and Mark D. Savin, an officer at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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February 22nd, 2013 — In News & Events

North Carolina House Passes Bill to Limit Eminent Domain to Public Use Only

Last week, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 110-8, House Bill 8, which seeks to limit the government’s power of eminent domain. HB 8 also passed a first reading in the NC Senate and has been referred to committee.

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