mahon analysis: holmes majority explore possible broader holdings by

SHOW SHOW BOATBOAT

1994 Broadway Cast 1994 Broadway Cast AlbumAlbum

Music by Jerome KernMusic by Jerome KernBook & Lyrics by Oscar Book & Lyrics by Oscar

Hammerstein IIHammerstein IIFirst Produced: 1927First Produced: 1927

Mahon Analysis: Holmes MajorityExplore Possible Broader Holdings

by1. Looking at ways BDS disagrees with HMS re

a. Diminution in Value (DQ108)b. Public Nuisance (DQ109)c. Reciprocity of Advantage (DQ110)

2. Looking at Important Language in Maj. Opinion

3. Will Yield Possible Rules: DQ111

DQ111: Mahon Rules& Holding (Krypton)

POSSIBLE RULES: AT LEAST…1. If diminution in value “goes too far” = Taking 2. If all value gone [and no safety issue]= Taking3. If reciprocity of advantage, no Taking4. If regulation destroys Property rights that were

specifically contracted for = Taking

DQ111: Mahon Rules & Holding :Balancing Test?

• Some students read case to say courts should decide Takings claims by balancing public interest behind challenged restriction against harm to property rights.

• Some study guides/published briefs agree

• Need to be careful; b/c you often use balancing tests in torts & elsewhere, may have instinct to use as default


• Some students read to require balancing test.

• Some study guides/published briefs agree.

• Concerns:– You often use balancing tests in Torts &

elsewhere; may have instinct to use as default rule.

– As we saw with publishedGhen brief, published sources not always reliable

• Let’s look more closely


What a Balancing Test Looks Like:

• Careful evaluation of State’s interest• Careful evaluation of harm to property

owner• Discussion of which is more significant &

why


• What a Balancing Test Looks Like:– Careful evaluation of State’s interest– Careful evaluation of harm to property owner– Discussion of which is more significant & why

• Hadacheck language re progress might suggest balance, but not what case does:– Discussion of state’s interest very general

(police powers v. specific health concerns)– No discussion about importance of brickmaking


• What a Balancing Test Looks Like:– Careful evaluation of State’s interest– Careful evaluation of harm to property owner– Discussion of which is more significant & why

• Hadacheck language re progress might suggest balance, but not what case does.

• Better read of language: A regulation is not a Taking just because it interferes with an existing long-established use

Key Language in Majority Opinion in Mahon:

Balancing Test?“If we were called upon to deal with the

plaintiffs’ posi-tion alone we should think it clear that the statute does not disclose a public interest sufficient to warrant so extensive a destruction of the defendant’s constitu-tionally protected rights.” (end of 3d para. p.108)

Language arguably looks like balance–Public interest is not “sufficient”–Harm to owner is “so extensive”


Balancing Test?“If we were called upon to deal with the Ps’ position alone

we should think it clear that the statute does not disclose a public interest sufficient to warrant so extensive a destruction of the D’s constitutionally protected rights.”

Hard to evaluate significance• On its face, this language is dicta• Case doesn’t really attempt thorough balance– Minimizes public interest as small & unfair– Sees private harm as total deprivation of rights– So pretty trivial balance


Balancing Test?“If we were called upon to deal with the Ps’ position alone

we should think it clear that the statute does not disclose a public interest sufficient to warrant so extensive a destruction of the D’s constitutionally protected rights.”

You can use passage to support balancing test• BUT if you do, best to acknowledge problems• Be aware later cases (e.g., Penn Central) don’t

read Mahon to balance

DQ111: Mahon Rules& Holding (Krypton)

Possible Readings of Hadacheck:Effect of Mahon

•Regulation OK if under Police Power?•Regulation OK if Preventing Public Nuisance?•Regulation OK if Protecting Health/Safety•Argument from Kelso: OK if Value Left•Regulation OK if Furthering Progress

Relevant Considerations in Takings Cases

§B Survey About What Facts Matter (68 Responses)

•Ban on Intended Use (61)

•% Reduction in Value (61): Mahon (Generally•$$$ Amount Reduction (42) & Reciprocity)•Purpose of Regulation (37) = Hadacheck (Police Powers); Sax (Enterpriser v. Arbiter; Stopping Spillovers); Mahon (Stopping Public Nuisance)•$$$ Amount Left (29) = Kelso (maybe Hadacheck); Mahon (Zero Value)•Return on Investment (18)

Friedman Article on Mahon DQ112: (Uranium)

How Does Info from Friedman Article Affect the Way You Should Read Mahon?

•Might change your view of dispute, but as a legal matter, shouldn’t change how you read case at all.

•For purposes of reading case, facts are what court says they are. No different than:

– Ignoring fox in well when interpreting Pierson

– Ignoring facts of Liesner that aren’t in Wisc SCt opinion.

LOGISTICS: CLASS #31• Group Written Assignment #1:– My Comments on 1st Two Qs Will Be Available

This Afternoon on Course Page (Follow Instructions There)– I won’t take Qs about until whole thing graded.

LOGISTICS: CLASS #31• Group Written Assignment #3–Due Sunday @ 4:00 pm.– If Qs about the three approaches, look at slides– Coordinators:• Send to Letty Tejeda’s e-mail address• Double-check instructions before finalizing

–Qs on Assignment? (Last Opportunity)

LOGISTICS: CLASS #31Mon/Tue 11/12-13: Meet 8:00-9:10 •Info on Elective Choice •Intro to Exam Question 3•Intro to Penn Central: DQ124 (Krypton)•Pick up Miller where we leave off today (Radium)•Other 1920s Cases (Krypton)•Probably Start Michaelman (Oxygen)

URANIUM

Takings Theorist #2:Richard Epstein& DQ113-14

Takings Theorists: Richard EpsteinDQ113 (Uranium)

Would only allow gov’t acts to limit property rights without compensation in 2 situations: (1) Nuisance Controls -OR-(2) Implicit Compensation

• Includes “Reciprocity of Advantage”• Includes Other Benefits Created by Regulatory

Scheme (e.g., Tax Breaks)

Mahon Analysis: Holmes & Brandeis

DQ110: Reciprocity (Revisited)“Average Reciprocity of Advantage”

•Benefit to party burdened by a law resulting precisely from same burden placed on others. •Not just general benefits to society from the regulation (“Rainbow” Benefits)•Examples– Plymouth Coal: Coal pillars between mines– Snow removal by urban stores– Similar re urban stores & lights on at night to

stop burglary (Jacobson)

Mahon Analysis: Holmes & Brandeis

DQ110: Reciprocity (Revisited)“Average Reciprocity of Advantage”

Other Examples from Kryptons & Me:•Residence-Only Rules in Suburban Zoning– Similar re requirements re preserving trees

(Bell)

•Salvage (roughly Criste)•Requirements that Dogs be on Leash (Lanza)– Some general benefits to non-dog owners– Specific benefits to other dog-owners out at

same time


Would only allow gov’t acts to limit property rights without compensation in 2 situations: (1) Nuisance Controls or (2) Implicit Compensation

Both arguably contract-based: Contracts we’d expect to be negotiated if no transaction costs(1) Collective buyout in nuisance case(2) Group negotiation in reciprocity case


Would only allow gov’t acts to limit property rights without compensation in 2 situations:

(1) Nuisance Controls or (2) Implicit Compensation

Application to Hadacheck?




Application to Hadacheck?Probably Paradigm

Nuisance Control Case




Application to Mahon?Depends on Whether You

Accept Holmes’s Characterization




Application to Airspace Solution to Hammonds

Problem?


Application of Epstein to Airspace Solution to Hammonds Problem?

• Might say Hammonds’s refusal to allow use of reservoir is like a nuisance b/c it increases expense and safety hazards for gas cos.

• BUT Epstein likely to want her to be compensated:– not traditional nuisance b/c harm doesn’t stem from her use of her own land.– Only compensation to her is general benefit to society of lower energy costs

(Rainbow)

• Note conversation in B1: On same reasoning, you’d expect Epstein to want compensation for surface owners when airspace taken for planes. I suggested that he might agree not to compensate b/c administrative costs of paying would be so high (identify each relevant surface owner, value the air rights; set up a system to pay, etc.)


Would only allow gov’t acts to limit property rights without compensation in 2 situations: (1) Nuisance Controls or (2) Implicit Compensation .

Strengths & Weaknesses of This Approach?

• Fewer relevant considerations than Supreme Court uses• Categories both leave lots of room for argument (Mottin-Berger)• Very Protective of Landowner Rights; Promotes Investment

(Simowitz)• Very Limiting to Govt Power (Simowitz). Regulations for, e.g.,

Historic Preservation, Wildlife Preservation, would probably require compensation.

Radium:

Miller v. Schoene& DQ115-18

Miller v. SchoeneDQ115: Introduction

(Radium) Gov’t Action = Cedar Rust Act: State Entomologist

can order diseased cedar trees cut down. State pays for removal but not for loss in value.

Purpose?• Legitimate (Connected to HSWM)? • Action rationally related to purpose?


(Radium) Gov’t Action = Cedar Rust Act: State Entomologist can order

diseased cedar trees cut down. Purpose: Save apple trees from spread of cedar rust disease;

help big apple industry• Legitimate? YES. Helping apple growers and state economy

= WELFARE.• Action rationally related to purpose? YES.

MEETS MINIMAL RATIONAL BASIS SCRUTINY


(Radium) Gov’t Action = Cedar Rust Act: State Entomologist can order

diseased cedar trees cut down. State pays for removal but not for loss in value.

Limits on petitioners’ use of their property? Remaining Uses?Harm to Petitioners?


(Radium)

Miller v. Schoene : Introduction Procedural

Posture• Order from state official to cut trees • Appeal to State Circuit Court, which affirmed order• Virginia SCt aff’d: No violation of U.S. Constitution• Writ of Error to US SCt (same as in Hadacheck &

Mahon)

mahon analysis: holmes majority explore possible broader holdings by

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