Knick v. Township of Scott, 588 U.S. ___ (2019)
Knick v. Township of Scott is a landmark Supreme Court decision that profoundly shifted the legal landscape for property owners asserting claims under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
Can landowners bring federal takings claims in federal court without first exhausting state court remedies?
The Fifth Amendment mandates that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. A federal takings claim can be brought in federal court without the exhaustion of state court remedies.
The Supreme Court held that a property owner has a claim for a violation of the Takings Clause as soon as the government takes their property, and they may bring such a claim in federal court without first seeking just compensation under state law.
Knick v. Township of Scott is significant because it reshapes the procedural prerequisites for addressing takings claims, enhancing the accessibility of federal courts for property rights litigation. The decision directly addresses issues of federalism by clarifying the jurisdictional access to federal relief for constitutional grievances, providing property owners with a more straightforward path to challenge state and local government takings.