No. 21-66

PBS Coals, Inc., et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Lower Court: Pennsylvania
Docketed: 2021-07-19
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: 14th-amendment 5th-amendment coal constitutional-law equal-protection physical-occupation property-rights real-estate subsurface-estate takings takings-clause
Latest Conference: 2021-09-27
Question Presented (from Petition)

Issue 1: When a State Agency permanently physically occupies a right-of-way and thereby completely blocks physical access to a subsurface owner's recognized, taxable real estate interest in coal, has a compensable taking occurred under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

Issue 2: When a permanent physical occupation of land that causes a complete denial of access to a recognized real estate interest has occurred, can a court apply an ad hoc factual inquiry in its takings analysis instead of following a per se physical takings analysis and thereby add a requirement that a mining permit must exist or must be likely to be issued in order for a taking to occur?

Issue 3: Does the explicit disparate, negative treatment of subsurface estate owners when compared to surface estate owners constitute a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

When a State Agency permanently physically occupies a right-of-way and thereby completely blocks physical access to a subsurface owner's recognized, taxable real estate interest in coal, has a compensable taking occurred under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

Docket Entries

2021-10-04
Petition DENIED.
2021-08-25
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/27/2021.
2021-08-13
Waiver of right of respondent Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation to respond filed.
2021-07-15
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 18, 2021)

Attorneys

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation
Eric J. JacksonOffice of Chier Counsel, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Respondent
PBS Coals, Inc, et al.
Vincent Joseph BarberaBarbera, Melvin & Svonavec, LLP, Petitioner