For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS20473 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Order Code RS20473 February 17, 2000 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Court Rulings During 1998 on Constitutional Takings Claims Against the United States Robert Meltz Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary In light of congressional activity on property rights bills during 1998, CRS extends its practice of compiling reported court decisions, involving federal actions and/or federal statutes, that resolved Fifth Amendment "property rights takings" challenges on the merits. Decisions in 1998 meeting this criteria numbered 33, of which three found a taking. The federal programs implicated in this year's decisions echo the broad diversity of such programs customarily involved in takings litigation against the United States. Areas generating multiple takings decisions in 1998 were telecommunications access, the fighting or intentional setting of forest fires, Indian tribal land rights, bankruptcy law, response to failed S&Ls, and the federal wetlands permitting program. During 1998, the second session of the 105th Congress continued consideration of "process type" property rights bills begun in the first session. Process bills, in the context of the property rights debate, are those that do not propose a standard for what constitutes a "taking" of property by government, but instead seek to streamline the judicial process for asserting such claims under the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause. In March, 1998, the House passed H.R. 992, which would end the current jurisdictional split between the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the federal district courts, allowing landowners to seek compensation for the impacts of government action, and seek invalidation of such action as unlawful, in the same court. In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee reported S. 1256, which combined the jurisdiction-enhancing approach of H.R. 992 with that of H.R. 1534 (passed by the House in the first session), reducing certain threshold barriers to asserting takings claims in federal court. The hybrid Senate bill came to the floor as S. 2271, where it was defeated in July, 1998 on a cloture vote. As noted, these bills dealt with process issues, not with the substantive question whether a particular government action constituted a taking. Still, because congressional interest in the takings issue continues, CRS continues to issue annual compilations of judicial activity in this area. These compilations list court decisions, published in a West Congressional Research Service ~ The Library of Congress CRS-2 reporter, in which a Fifth Amendment "taking" claim involving a federal action or federal statute was resolved on the merits.1 For 1998, research reveals 33 decisions meeting the above criteria, of which three found a taking -- "four" if the Supreme Court decision in Eastern Enterprises v. Apfel is included. (See table entry for this decision on page 4, describing the justices' fractionated opinions.) These figures are in line with the corresponding numbers from previous years.2 In interpreting such numbers, bear in mind they do not represent all outcomes of takings cases involving federal actions or federal statutes. Other resolutions of such cases, not listed here, are by unpublished decision, non-merits disposition (e.g., expired statute of limitations, lack of ripeness), voluntary dismissal, or settlement. Also note that this report, as the others in the series, is written from the vantage point of the last day of the covered year. Thus, events following that date, even though occurring before the date of the report's issuance, are not mentioned. Case Challenged gov't Holding/rationale action Alves v. United Alleged failure by BLM No taking. Neither plaintiff's grazing permit nor his grazing States, 133 F.3d to contain trespasses by "preference" (priority in receiving grazing permit over adjacent public 1454 (Fed. Cir. livestock of nearby land) is a property right. Moreover, government cannot be liable for Jan. 12) Indian ranchowner failure to regulate animals under its regulatory control. A fortiori, government cannot be liable for failing to control privately owned animals. Phillips & Green, DOD deduction of $75 No taking. In return for the $75, plaintiff received a service from DOD. M.D., P.A. v. administrative fee from Garnishment was but one of many ways plaintiff could have recouped Clark-Amaker, 992 amount garnished from money owed by defendant. Having selected garnishment, plaintiff cannot F. Supp. 450 its employee's wages complain of the administrative cost, as required by Congress. (D.D.C. Jan. 30) and paid to plaintiff Teamsters Pension Suit by multiemployer No taking. There was no reasonable expectation that limited liability Trust Fund v. pension plan trustee under retirement plans would last forever, especially when employer Cristinzio, Inc., seeking to recover entered collective bargaining agreements on at least three occasions after 994 F. Supp. 617 withdrawal liability 1980 enactment of statute imposing withdrawal liability. Every circuit (E.D. Pa. Feb. 24) from withdrawing to consider takings challenges to statute has rejected them. employer Allenfield Assocs. Veteran's Admini- Taking. When U.S. occupies private property without consent of owner, v. United States, 40 stration's continued it is liable under the Fifth Amendment for the fair market rental of the Fed. Cl. 471 (Mar. occupancy of property property. Government's sublease could not give it rights beyond 2) after expiration of expiration of prime lease. sublease 1 CRS Report 91-171 (1990 decisions); CRS Report 92-337 (1991 decisions); CRS Report 93-779 (1992 decisions); CRS Report 94-728 (1993 decisions); CRS Report 95-790 (1994 decisions); CRS Report 96-771 (1995 decisions); CRS Report 97-1035 (1996 decisions); CRS Report 98-989 (1997 decisions). 2 See CRS reports listed in note 1. CRS-3 Case Challenged gov't Holding/rationale action Gulf Power Co. v. Federal statute Taking. Mandatory access provision in Telecommunications Act of United States, 998 requiring that utilities 1996, requiring that qualifying utilities give cable companies access to F. Supp. 1386 provide cable TV their poles, ducts, etc., is per se taking. Original Pole Attachments Act, (N.D. Fla. Mar. 6) operators with access to at issue in FCC v. Florida Power Corp., 480 U.S. 245 (1987), did not their poles, ducts, and compel access. rights of way FDIC v. Mahoney, RTC repudiation of No taking. Claim to which security interest attaches does not exist. 141 F.3d 913 (9th failed bank's lease, as Hence, security interest, and claim that it was taken, necessarily vanish. Cir. Apr.1) receiver for bank In re Gomes, 219 Bankruptcy trustee's No taking. Loss is within reasonable investment-backed expectations of B.R. 286 (D. Or. effort to recover, as church. Under provisions of bankruptcy code in existence since 1978, Apr. 7) fraudulent transfers, church reasonably could expect that its receipts from tithes might be pre-bankruptcy-petition subject to recoupment by a bankruptcy trustee where donator was tithes made by debtor to insolvent when contributions were made. church Greenbrier v. Repeal of low-income No taking (or taking claim not ripe). Twenty-year prepayment right was United States, 40 housing owners' right to not contractual. HUD was not a party on the mortgage notes between Fed. Cl. 689 (Apr. prepay HUD-insured owners and lenders containing the prepayment term; term was prescribed 9) mortgages after 20 by HUD regulations which noted that terms were subject to amendment. years and thereby end Since not contractual, there can be no taking claim based on breach of affordability restrictions contract. on owners Pacific National FCC's dismissal of No taking. Fact that dismissal of application resulted in plaintiff's Cellular v. United permit application, then financial commitment letters, allegedly contracts, being deprived of States, 41 Fed. Cl. concluding it had economically viable use is not taking of contract right. At most was 20 (Apr. 28) violated law and frustration of such rights. Moreover, communications arena is heavily granting permit, regulated field, by FCC in particular. Entity entering that arena should resulting in non-use of expect continued regulation by FCC. financial commitment letters Yi v. Citibank Application of No taking. Lien avoidance under federal bankruptcy power is not a (Maryland), N.A., bankruptcy law to taking. Bankruptcy proceedings frequently modify property rights 219 B.R. 394 (E.D. disallow claim of established under state law. Fifth Amendment protects creditor's rights Va. Apr. 29) creditor holding third only to extent of its interest in the collateral as that interest is defined by deed of trust bankruptcy laws. Seldovia Native Alaska Native Claims No taking. No property rights in ANCSA-specified choices. Ass'n v. United Settlement Act States, 144 F.3d amendments redefining 769 (Fed. Cir. May lands available for 14) selection by village corporation Thune v. United Destruction of hunting No taking. At most, a tort is involved. If we assume fire's escape States, 41 Fed. Cl. camp on federal land resulted from wind changes that government could not have anticipated 49 (Fed. Cl. June when controlled burn (as record suggests), no taking liability since taking requires government 5) set by U.S. escaped intent to take or intent to do an act the direct, natural, or probable consequence of which was to take. CRS-4 Case Challenged gov't Holding/rationale action Osprey Pacific GSA seizure of boat Taking. Plaintiff charterer had valid right to possess boat. Corp. v. United U.S. had donated to States, 41 Fed. Cl. state, on finding state 150 (June 10) had violated federal property regulations Westinghouse Elec. Alleged DOD breach of No taking. Plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence that it possessed Corp. v. United promise to make right to be sole-source provider beyond term of contract. U.S. could not States, 41 Fed. Cl. plaintiff sole provider have taken what plaintiff did not possess. 229 (Fed. Cl. June for anti-submarine 17) system beyond contract term Eastern Enterprises Federal statute Unconstitutional as applied to plaintiff. Four justices supporting v. Apfel, 524 U.S. requiring company to judgment hold that taking occurs when, as here, statute imposes severe 498 (June 25) fund health benefits of retroactive liability on limited class of parties that could not have miner who worked for it anticipated the liability, and extent of liability is substantially decades earlier, where disproportionate to company's experience in mining field. Remaining company left mining justice supporting judgment sees no taking, but rather a substantive due businesss before process violation. Four dissenters find no taking or due process violation. promise of lifetime benefits in collective bargaining agreements became explicit in 1974 BMR Gold Corp. v. Traversing of plaintiff's No taking. Plaintiff (lessee of property) concedes that it gave permission United States, 41 land by U.S. marines to to marines to traverse its property. Consent precludes taking. Fed. Cl. 277 (June reach downed 30) helicopter In re CF&I Statutory amendment No taking. Taking requires interference with reasonable expectations. Fabricators of authorizing payment of Here, purported expectations consist of disbursements from debtor's Utah, Inc., 150 fees to bankruptcy estate. In a bankruptcy case as complex as this, however, patently F.3d 1233 (10th trustee, as applied to unreasonable to expect no variability in final amount available to plan Cir. June 30) bankruptcy proceedings distributees. with already confirmed plans Maricopa-Stanfield Federal tribal water No taking. Irrigation districts had no right in excess water under earlier Irrig. Dist. v. rights statute, alleged to statute (Ak-Chin Settlement Act), so U.S. reallocation of excess water United States, 158 take Arizona irrigation under later law effected no taking. F.3d 428 (9th Cir. districts' water rights July 7) under earlier statute Karuk Tribe v. P a r t itioning of No taking. Neither 1864 act creating reservation nor benefits conferred United States, 41 reservation by Hoopa- thereunder vested any compensable property rights. Fed. Cl. 468 (Aug. Yurok Settlement Act 6) Vermont Assembly Interim payment plan No taking. Plaintiffs accuse interim payment plan of limiting of Home Health established by Balanced reimbursement to such an inadequate level as to constitute a regulatory Agencies, Inc. v. Budget Act of 1997 to taking. But plaintiffs' participation in Medicare is voluntary. Shalala, 18 F. control home health Supp. 2d 355 (D. care costs by reducing Vt. Aug. 26) Medicare reimburse- ment for such services CRS-5 Case Challenged gov't Holding/rationale action Schism v. United U.S. requirement that No taking. 1956 enactment of statute reducing benefits did not constitute States, 19 F. Supp. military retirees pay taking of any vested property right, since benefits were noncontractual 2d 1287 (N.D. Fla. Medicare premiums for in nature. Despite what recruiters may have said to plaintiffs in 1942, Aug. 31) their health benefits, pre-1956 regulations did not establish free lifetime medical care for after promises at time of retirees. enlistment of free lifetime medical care Jones v. Clinton, Court's retaining seal No taking. Plaintiff had no property interest in discovery materials she 12 F. Supp. 2d 931 on certain discovery had amassed. (E.D. Ark. Sept. 1) materials following summary judgment in case Palm Beach Isles Corps of Engineers' No taking. No taking of acreage below high water mark, since subject Assocs. v. United denial of dredge and fill to federal navigation servitude. As to remaining acreage above mark, States, 42 Fed. Cl. permit Penn Central factors cut against taking ­ e.g., "regulatory climate" at 340 (Oct. 19) time property was acquired precludes reasonable expectations of development, and parcel as a whole was entire original parcel. United States v. Retroactive application No taking. Court has previously found Superfund Act constitutional in Vertac Chemical of Superfund Act the face of a retroactivity argument. Eastern Enterprises v. Apfel, 524 Corp., 33 F. Supp. liabiliity scheme U.S. 498 (1998), does not apply. 2d 769 (E.D. Ark. Oct. 23) W a t e rcraft Tahoe Regional No taking. As a threshold matter, TRPA ordinances are federal law, Recreation Ass'n v. Planning Agency since they are created under mandate of congressionally ratified interstate TRPA, 24 F. Supp. ordinance barring compact which is itself federal law. As to taking claim, ordinance 2d 1062 (E.D. Cal. discharge from substantially advances legitimate state interests (conservation of Lake Oct. 28) watercraft propelled by Tahoe) and does not deny economic use of boats but merely prohibits use carbureted two-stroke on Lake Tahoe. engines Teegarden v. Forest Service's actions No taking. Decision of Forest Service to concentrate efforts in areas of United States, 42 in fighting forest fire, higher priority did not constitute taking of plaintiff's timber lands. Fed. Cl. 252 (Nov. causing damage to 10) owner of timber lands Sunrise Village Damage to mobile No taking. Taking claim in Court of Federal Claims cannot be based on Mobile Home Park home park allegedly unauthorized government acts. Moreover, if government's actions v. United States, 42 caused by improper allegedly breached a contract, appropriate remedy is breach of contract Fed. Cl. 392 (Dec. federal supervision of claim, not taking. 9) contractor's remedial work following Companion case (same holding and rationale): Dureiko v. United States, hurricane 42 Fed. Cl. 568 (Dec. 9). Robbins v. United Buyer's rescission of No taking. Affirming, without published opinion, decision of trial court States, 178 F.3d land sale contract after at 40 Fed. Cl. 381 (1998). 1310 (Fed. Cir. Corps of Engineers Dec. 10) indicated property contained wetland CRS-6 Case Challenged gov't Holding/rationale action U.S. West State public utility No taking. No evidence presented that interconnecting company has Communi-cations, commission decision, purchased any services pursuant to agreement, nor that it ever will. Even Inc. v. Worldcom pursuant to federal if interconnecting company does purchase services, deals are as yet Technologies, Inc., telecommunications act, undetermined. 31 F. Supp. 2d 819 under which incumbent (D. Or. Dec. 10) local exchange carrier Companion cases (same holding and rationale): U.S. West might receive less Communications v. TCG Oregon, 31 F. Supp. 2d 828 (D. Or. Dec. 10); compensation under U.S. West Communications, Inc. v. AT&T Communications of the interconnection Pacific Northwest, 31 F. Supp. 2d 839 (D. Or. Dec. 10). agreement than amount to which it allegedly is entitled M o n a r c h Nonpayment by U.S. on No taking. No credible evidence that person who signed note was agent Assurance P.L.C. note allegedly executed of U.S. authorized to sign. v. United States, 42 by CIA agent, payable Fed. Cl. 258 (Dec. to plaintiffs 18) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS20473