Private Property, Community Development, and Eminent Domain

In Kelo v. City of New London, the city used "eminent domain" to take land from one private party for purposes of transferring it to another private party the city thought would make better economic use of it. The 2005 case is still controversial, even amongst the members of the US Supreme Court where it was heard, and certainly amongst the public. The Court held the city's action was legal under the US Constitution. The result has been a re-evaluation of what constitutes "public good." This collection of eight articles examines the ramifications of the case, covering the history of public use in the public eye, natural property rights, the stage set by Berman and Midkiff, eminent domain in England, federalism and localism in the Kelo and San Remo cases, compensation in a society built upon ownership, and prospects for development after a natural disaster. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Robin Paul Malloy is E.I. White Chair and Distinguished Professor of Law at Syracuse University College of Law, USA. He is Vice Dean, and Director of the Center on Property, Citizenship, and Social Entrepreneurism. He is also Professor of Economics (by courtesy appointment) in Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, College of Law, Syracuse University. Professor Malloy writes extensively on law and market theory and on real estate transactions and development. He has published 10 books, more than 25 articles, and contributed to 10 other books.