Denton Fracking Ban Leads to Eminent Domain Claims by Mineral Rights Owners

The City of Denton passed a proposition to ban fracking. It’s led to lawsuits to stop the implementation of the ban.

New lawsuits may emerge from mineral rights owners. Mineral Rights owners could assert that the fracking ban ordinance unfairly restricts their ability to use their property. In short, that the city used a form of eminent domain to take their property and didn’t compensate the mineral rights owners for taking away their ability to extract the minerals.   adminPosted ininverse condemnation, land use, legal trend, legislation trend, pipelines/common carriers

Craft Brewers Claim Distributor System Is Like Eminent Domain with No Public Benefit

3 craft brewers are suing Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission over a 2013 law that prohibits the brewers from distributing their product. 

The craft brewers liken the prohibition from retaining distribution abilities to TABC exercising eminent domain.  The analogy is that the law gives distributors property, that isn’t theirs and that they didn’t earn without compensating the the owner of the property, the craft brewers.  

The Institute for Justice is representing the craft…

Water District To Seize Electric Transmission Lines

The South San Joaquin Irrigation District was granted approval to enter the retail electric market. South San Joaquin has its eyes on acquiring PG&E’s transmission lines, transformers and poles.  

South San Joaquin co-owns hydroelectric damns. It’s not new to electric world. PG&E wants $600 million for its infrastructure. South San Joaquin wants to pay $125 million.

The two sides are far apart in compensation. Since South San Joaquin has the authority to use eminent…

Cattleraisers Support Fairness for Landowners

“We will do whatever it takes to make sure landowners are treated fairly when an entity uses the power of eminent domain to claim land for public use.” – Robert McKnight, Second Vice President, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Cattleraisers made hundreds of calls last session opposing Tryon Lewis’ common carrier bill, HB 2748. [ adminPosted in2013 legislation, 2015 legislation, activism, fairness, private property rights

3 Reasons Private Property Rights Proponent Dislike the RRC Common Carrier Rules

Private property rights proponents say the RRC common carrier rules do not go far enough to protect private proeprty rights. 10 years ago, maybe this wouldn’t be a big deal. But, there’s an oil and gas boom in a state that has 97% of its land privately owned. If a private company wants to build a pipeline to move the oil and gas; it’s going to have to deal with private landowners. 

Property rights proponents say the common carrier rules are:

  • too vague
  • might n…

RRC Common Carrier Rules Could Benefit a Landowner Lawsuit

Landowners are on a winning streak with private property rights arguments in Texas courts.  Most wins occur when a private company, like a pipeline, uses eminent domain.  The murky territory of private companies acting like public entities. 

On December 18th, the Court of Appeals for the 9th District will hear oral arguments in a case between land owners and a pipeline. These landowners won with the Texas Supreme Court. The Supreme Court  sent common carrier standards back to the a…

Ted Cruz, John Stewart, Pipelines & Eminent Domain– Hilarity Ensues

John Stewart took on eminent domain. It’s hilarious, as always. Here’s an excerpt:

“I am disturbed by eminent domain abuse, because I think private property rights are fundamental to who we are as Americans… I don’t we should be helping out private interests,” Cruz said. “The problem with the Keystone Pipeline isn’t the issue of Eminent Domain, the problem is the Obama administration with the stroke of a pen shut that project down.”

“What the f–k?” Stewart said before mocki…