Oregon Mortgages

Eminent Domain

I’m not sure how many people are familiar with the Kelo V New London, the Supreme Court decision on Eminent Domain that enraged many property owners across the country.

They ruled that New London, Connecticut was justified in condemning a middle class neighborhood so developers could focus on a private construction development they wanted to pursue. The development would add jobs to the area as well as raise the tax the county would receive and would be in the public’s “best” interest. However, this ruling caused an uproar and for many state residents to take action against some of the rules to Eminent Domain and to limit the power of the law.

Last month 12 states introduced new laws to limit the rights to Eminent Domain to help secure that people wouldn’t lose their property to private developers. So its safe to say it will not be too easy for people to take private citizens property without a very good reason.