property – Courthouse News Service

Black Church Wins Default Judgment Against Proud Boys

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021 JOSH RUSSELL

2020 elections, Black Lives Matter, churches, default judgment, property, Proud Boys, Washington DC

The far-right group ignored a lawsuit brought by a historic Black church in the nation’s capital that was vandalized by a pro-Trump mob last year.

Civil Rights Consumers Government Regional

Judge Tosses California Coastline Signpost Suit

March 2, 2021March 3, 2021 MARTIN MACIAS JR

billboards, California, California Coastal Commission, Free Speech, property

The owners of an oceanfront home in Malibu, California, are defending their plan to install signposts marking where the public beach ends and their private property begins.

Environment Government National

Democratic-Led House Makes Conservation Push With Lands Bill

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021 ASSOCIATED PRESS

bills, property, U.S. House of Representatives

The House passed legislation Friday that would create about 1.5 million acres of new wilderness and incorporate nearly 1,200 miles of waterways into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System as Democrats move to protect more public lands — with President Joe Biden’s blessing.

Appeals Civil Rights Government

High Court Turns Away Hawaii Zoning Dispute, Spurring Thomas Dissent

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 BRAD KUTNER

developers, Fifth Amendment, Hawaii, property, taking, U.S. Supreme Court, zoning

Justice Clarence Thomas decried the state of Fifth Amendment land-taking precedent in a brief dissent Monday after the Supreme Court refused to hear a Hawaii zoning dispute.

Business Government Health

Racetrack

February 19, 2021February 22, 2021 BRIEF

coronavirus, Indiana, property

A federal court in Indiana ruled against the owners of a dirt racetrack who claimed their property was “seized without just compensation” when the state ordered it temporarily closed along with several other businesses by Covid-19-related orders.

Business Energy Environment

Sacred Land

January 15, 2021January 19, 2021 BRIEF

Arizona, mining, property, tribal issues

A federal court in Arizona denied Apache Stronghold’s request for a temporary restraining order to present the U.S. government from publishing a final environmental impact statement on a copper mine project, which would permit the sale of 2,422-acres of land that the plaintiff’s claim is “Western Apache land” under an 1852 treaty.

Consumers Environment Government

Levee Paths

January 13, 2021January 14, 2021 BRIEF

construction, injunction, Louisiana, property

An appeals court in Louisiana granted the West Baton Rouge Parish Council a permanent injunction against landowners to prevent them from interfering with the levee district’s construction of bicycle paths and walkways on top of levees, which are located on their properties.

National Politics Religion

Proud Boys Sued Over Attack on Black Church in DC

January 4, 2021January 5, 2021 JACK RODGERS

2020 elections, Black Lives Matter, churches, property, protests, trespass, Washington DC

The far-right group the Proud Boys was dragged to court Monday by a church in the nation’s capital that claims it was terrorized last month when members of the group vandalized Black Lives Matter signs in an attempt to silence supporters of racial justice.

Business Government International Politics

US Consulate Hong Kong Property Sale Stuck in Diplomatic Row

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

China, Diplomacy, Hong Kong, property, Real Estate

A multimillion-dollar property sale by the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong has been put on ice because it has not received permission from Beijing, the prospective buyer said Wednesday.

Business Consumers

Square Footage

December 23, 2020December 24, 2020 BRIEF

California, Class Action, housing, Insurance, property

A federal court in California dismissed a class action that accused Allstate of double-counting the square footage of garages when determining the total square footage of properties in order to charge policyholders inflated premiums.

Government International Politics

Equatorial Guinea Loses Challenge to Seizure of French Mansion

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 MOLLY QUELL

Africa, Embassies, France, property, seizures, United Nations

A swanky Parisian mansion was not a diplomatic residence for Equatorial Guinea and France had a right to seize it, the United Nations’ high court ruled Friday.

Appeals Environment Government

Eminent Domain

November 25, 2020November 27, 2020 BRIEF

Alaska, Ninth Circuit, property

The Ninth Circuit upheld a ruling in favor of Alaska’s Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation in an eminent domain proceeding relating to land taken to connect public trails, finding the lower court properly relied on an appraisal report to determine just compensation for the land belonging to two sisters that was acquired under the Alaska Native Allotment Act.

International Politics

German Police Clear Out Famous Berlin Squatters’ Building

October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 ASSOCIATED PRESS

evictions, Germany, Police, property

Police in heavy riot gear began clearing out a notorious Berlin leftist squat on Friday, encountering only passive resistance from residents as they carried them individually down a firetruck ladder.

Politics Regional

Pandemic Touted by Both Sides in Fight Over California Property Tax Reform Measure

September 18, 2020September 18, 2020 NICK CAHILL

2020 elections, California, coronavirus, property, Taxes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — Years in the making, a plan to tinker with California’s iconic property tax code and raise

Government Law

Majority of Californians Support Property Tax Reform, Study Shows

September 16, 2020September 17, 2020 MARTIN MACIAS JR

California, property, reforms, Taxes

A California ballot measure that would drastically reform how commercial properties are taxed has the support of the majority of state residents who plan to vote in November, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Entertainment Environment Government

No Hiking!

September 16, 2020September 17, 2020 BRIEF

Endangered Species Act, Montana, property, U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service’s plan to build a 3-mile trail — with bridge for hikers and cattle — will disrupt the natural balance of the area, negatively impact private property owners and violate the Endangered Species Act, according to property owners who sued Wednesday.

International

Spain Court Orders Franco Family to Return Mansion

September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Fraud, history, property, Spain

A Spanish court on Wednesday ordered Francisco Franco’s family to hand over the keys to a mansion it says was illegally bought by the late dictator decades ago.

Appeals Government Politics

Presidential Center

August 24, 2020August 25, 2020 BRIEF

Barack Obama, Chicago, parks, property, taking

The Obama Presidential Center can occupy 20 acres of public land in Chicago’s Jackson Park, the Seventh Circuit ruled, finding the plaintiffs who wish to stop the project do not have a property interest in the land and that the center, with its museum, library, gardens and more, is a use of the land with public benefits.

Government Law

Condemnation Lawsuits Stand Between Trump and His ‘Big Beautiful Wall’

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 CAMERON LANGFORD

Border Wall, borders, Customs and Border Protection, property, Texas, Trump administration

With President Donald Trump eager to fulfill his campaign promise to build 450 miles of border wall by the end of 2020, his administration has filed 63 eminent domain lawsuits against South Texas landowners this year. One problem: Such cases can take years to resolve.