Lawsuits

Meet the Youth Plaintiffs Suing for Climate Change Action

A federal magistrate judge recently allowed a group of 21 youth plaintiffs to proceed with a lawsuit charging the federal government with neglecting their constitutional rights by failing to act on climate change.

April 11, 2016 - Grist

Legal Spat Over Plan to Widen I-405 in Orange County

Orange County, California transportation officials want to widen the 405 to reduce travel times and ease predicted congestion. The cities of Seal Beach and Long Beach are concerned about how that will impact traffic on surface streets.

April 11, 2016 - KPCC

Cook County Court: Bike Lanes More Than 'Recreational Facilities'

Proof that words matter—especially in court—came when Chicago tried to redefine bike lanes as recreational facilities.

January 25, 2016 - Bike Law

Environmental Groups Sue to Stop Sprawl in the Inland Empire

On the fringes of the built environment in Southern California, comes a turn of events much more common in the urban core: the California Environmental Quality Act has been invoked to put the brakes on a general plan update.

January 20, 2016 - The Desert Sun

'Bridge-Gate' Attorneys Make Their Case: You Can't Sue Over Traffic

Attorneys representing the state of New Jersey responded to the allegations of a class action lawsuit rising from the "bridge-gate" scandal.

January 3, 2016 - The Record

Seatle Skyline

Lawyer Sees the 'Ghost of Seattle's Future'

This favorable profile of Jack McCullough, a Seattle lawyer representing developers, highlights his role as a deal-maker. Recent agreements between his clients and Mayor Ed Murray may preserve a path forward for affordable housing.

October 16, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Grand Central Terminal Owner Files $1.1 Billion Suit Against One Vanderbilt

A $1.1 billion lawsuit challenges the approval of plans for One Vanderbilt, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, on the grounds that it circumvented the purchase of air rights from the adjacent Grand Central Terminal.

October 1, 2015 - The New York Times

Suing for the 'Civil Right' to Develop Housing

A developer is claiming that the New Jersey borough of Upper Saddle River violated its "civil rights" to provide housing in a New Jersey community.

July 7, 2015 - The Record

States Ally with Telecoms to Obstruct Municipal Broadband

Telecom companies don’t want to compete with local governments to provide Internet to residents, but a recent rule by the federal government allows them to do just that. Pushback has come from an unlikely source: state attorneys general.

July 1, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Lawsuit Takes Issue With Bond Financing for NFL Stadium Plan in St. Louis

A lawsuit filed by Missouri state legislators finds fault with a plan to extend bond funding from the city's last NFL stadium project to help finance a new $985 million stadium located north of downtown along the city's waterfront.

June 3, 2015 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Farming Impacts on Drinking Water Litigated in Iowa

A lawsuit by the Des Moines water utility could change the way the farming industry mitigates its environmental impacts.

January 13, 2015 - Grist

Trolls

Modernism-Hating Neighbor Sues to Halt Home Construction

Allison Arieff tells the sordid tale of a "modestly modernist" house in Oakwood, a historic district in Raleigh, North Carolina. Despite the fully permitted house being 85 percent complete, a lawsuit by a neighbor could force its demolition.

July 16, 2014 - New York Times

Could Property Owners Sue if Cincinnati Cancels its Streetcar?

The cancellation of Cincinnati's under-construction streetcar became a real possibility this month with the election of Mayor John Cranley. Could property owners and businesses who expected a boost from its arrival sue if it's cancelled?

November 22, 2013 - Cincinnati Business Courier

EIR Lawsuits Target Infill Locations

Most California lawsuits challenging environmental impact reports have their sites set on infill projects.

January 12, 2013 - California Planning & Development Report

Land Use Battles a Blight on City Budgets

The recent bankruptcy of the California city of Mammoth Lakes - brought on by a $43 million court decision in favor of a developer - is an extreme example of the cost of land use disputes. But it's indicative of a widespread problem in the state.

September 10, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Stranded Metro Riders Sue New York MTA for Better Emergency Response

Last winter, subway riders were stuck on a New York City train overnight. Now some have filed a lawsuit against the MTA for its poor handling of the situation, highlighting the need for emergency planning in public transit agencies.

January 1, 2012 - Transportation Nation

Vernon's Fight Against Disincorporation May Bankrupt the City

The city of Vernon, California, fought hard recently to avoid disincorporation. The price of that fight has drained the city's coffers, and now some say it's too deep in the hole to function properly.

December 29, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

California Cities Sue Over Laws That Kill Redevelopment

Cities have filed a lawsuit with the California State Supreme Court over recently passed laws that eliminate funding for the state's redevelopment agencies.

July 19, 2011 - San Jose Mercury News

L.A. tries to Sue Superbank 'Slumlord'

The city of Los Angeles is attempting to sue Deutsche Bank, the owner of thousands of foreclosed and blighted homes in the city. If it works, other cities could follow.

May 7, 2011 - Marketplace

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