Chip Taylor

Property rights case going to the Supremes

From the New York Times:

The Supreme Court added an important property rights case to its docket on Tuesday, beating the calendar to fill in its schedule for the new term that begins Oct. 4, the traditional first Monday in October.

The case is an appeal by seven property owners in a neighborhood in New London, Conn., that the city has designated for economic development. The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld the city's right to exercise its power of eminent domain to take the parcels, pay compensation to the owners and turn the land over to a private developer.

While eminent domain in the past was generally limited to government projects, like roads or public buildings, or to what used to be known as slum clearance, local governments are increasingly finding it convenient to use eminent domain to clear land for private development that will enhance the tax base.

If the Institute for Justice can win this one it will be quite a coup.

UPDATE: The Washington Post has an article also.