Real Estate & Property Law

Another year -- another decade -- has come and gone, so it's time to launch our annual summary of the highlights in land use law and other topics covered on the blog.

2009 seems to have passed without a dramatic case or landmark decision, but upon closer review, it was a year of subtle but critical shifts: the California courts got serious about property and takings issues, courts nationwide got serious about the public use issue in eminent domain, and the U.S. Supreme Court finally delved into the issue of "judicial takings."

Hot topics in Hawaii: the U.S. Supreme Court dropped the hammer on the idea that the Apology Resolution was anything more than "hortatory fluff" by a swift and unanimous decision in the "ceded lands" case, and the seemingly never-ending Hawaii Superferry case finally ended (along with the Hawaii Superferry). Local issues on simmer, but not yet resolved: Honolulu's multi-billion rail project, the continuing issue of "vacation rentals," and beach ownership.  

Stay tuned over the next few days as we run down these and other issues of interest from 2009.

If you think we should cover any key cases or events, please send an email, or suggest a topic yourself in a comment.