Last week, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, a case involving a California law requiring agricultural employers to allow union organizers to enter the employer’s property.  The employers claimed this was a taking of private property without just compensation, and the US Supreme Court agreed.  [Read Opinion here.] Background  California law gives agricultural employees the right to self-organization and prohibits employers from interfering with that right.  The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (CALRB) passed a regulation that requires labor organizations to… Read More →

The United States Supreme Court issued a decision in Murr v. Wisconsin last week, siding with the state and holding that two lots adjacent to a river should be considered as one parcel for takings analysis.  Perhaps more relevant than the actual holding in the case is the discussion that the court engaged in related to regulatory takings analysis generally. Background The Murr siblings own two 1.25-acre waterfront lots on Lake St. Croix in Wisconsin.  The first lot, Lot F, was purchased in 1960 by the Murr parents, and… Read More →

It is not that often that an agricultural law issue is before the United States Supreme Court.  Yesterday, however, the Court sided with raisin farmers who claimed that a government ag marketing order constituted a taking of their private property for which just compensation was owed.  [Read full opinion here.] Factual Background This case involves a claim by the Horne family against the United States Department of Agriculture.  The Hornes are raisin farmers and raisin growers in California.  In addition to raising their own raisins, they serve as sort… Read More →