McMaster v. United States
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the United States may defeat the purpose of a mining patent by claiming an ownership interest in the structures that are reasonable and incident to mining…
Property Rights
George v. United States of America
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the United States of America must respect the property rights of owners of property as to which the United States possesses an easement? Plaintiff: Anne George…
Minard Run Oil Company v. United States Forest Service
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether federal land management agencies may change their longstanding policies by executing “sweetheart” settlement agreements with environmental groups? Plaintiff: Minard Run Oil Company; Pennsylvania Independent Oil and…
Marston v. U.S. Forest Service
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the federal government may seize property and/or take governmental action that significantly damages property or impairs its use? Plaintiff: Arron Marston and Judy Marston Defendant: United…
Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Service
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the use of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 to bar an otherwise legal use of a national forest violates the Establishment…
Colorado v. McCracken
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether an easement, held in trust by a state agency, that allows public access to private land for small game hunting, precludes the landowners from building a…
Lochness Properties, Inc. v. City of Sheridan, Colorado
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the condemnation of private property to be conveyed to a private developer in order to generate increased tax revenues constitutes “public use” under the Colorado Constitution?…
San Juan County v. United States of America
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether environmental groups that claim no interest in property may intervene in Quiet Title Act litigation filed by San Juan County to determine whether it has an…
Mann v. United States
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the BLM may cancel a valid geothermal lease for failure of the lessee to respond to a notice, which was sent by the BLM to the…
Thrall v. Veneman
Historical Case
Case Summary Issue: Whether the Michigan Wilderness Act, which protects owners of private property near federal wilderness areas, prevents the U.S. Forest Service from denying owners the ability to use…