Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2018

Abstract

In light of the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Lucas decision, this Article reexamines the actual relevance of the opinion by weighing the framing, reach, and aftermath of Justice Scalia’s majority opinion. This Article argues that Justice Scalia’s opinion consciously framed the regulatory takings doctrine in a more favorable way for private property owners, and by doing so, helped pave the way for subsequent denial that environmental and climate concerns are a valid basis for any government action. Justice Scalia attempted to create a regulatory environment that protects private real estate investments instead of protecting the public environment as intended by democratically enacted regulations, but courts have applied Lucas in a more limited manner than Justice Scalia probably intended.

Publication Citation

53 Real Prop. Tr. & Est. L.J. 1-26 (2018)

Share

COinS