Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 3 of 3
Full-Text Articles in Law
Putting Exclusionary Zoning In Its Place: Affordable Housing And Geographical Scale, Christopher Serkin, Leslie Wellington
Putting Exclusionary Zoning In Its Place: Affordable Housing And Geographical Scale, Christopher Serkin, Leslie Wellington
Christopher Serkin
No abstract provided.
Strategic Land Use Litigation: Pleading Around Municipal Insurance, Christopher Serkin
Strategic Land Use Litigation: Pleading Around Municipal Insurance, Christopher Serkin
Christopher Serkin
Municipal insurance policies inevitably contain a curious exclusion of coverage for regulatory takings claims. Many courts have interpreted this exclusion broadly, applying it to all land-use litigation. Other courts have interpreted the exclusion narrowly. Both interpretations are problematic. The former is at odds with policy language and the normal rule that insurance policies are to be construed against the insurer. The latter creates an opportunity for plaintiffs to craft their pleadings explicitly to trigger or to avoid triggering the municipality’s insurance coverage. Plaintiffs seeking a quick settlement are well advised to plead around the exclusion so as to settle with …
Insuring Takings Claims, Christopher Serkin
Insuring Takings Claims, Christopher Serkin
Christopher Serkin
Local governments typically insure themselves against all kinds of losses, from property damage to legal liability. For small- and medium-sized governments, this usually means purchasing insurance from private insurers or participating in municipal risk pools. Insurance for regulatory takings claims, however, is generally unavailable. This previously unnoticed gap in municipal insurance coverage could lead risk averse local governments to underregulate and underenforce existing regulations where property owners threaten to bring takings claims. This seemingly technical observation turns out to have profound implications for theoretical accounts of the Takings Clause that focus on government regulatory incentives. This Article explores the impact …