No. 24-997

James Doyle, dba Rocky Mountain Ventures, dba Environmental Land Technologies, Ltd. v. United States

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2025-03-19
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Response Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-exhaustion federal-circuit property-rights regulatory-action ripeness-doctrine takings-claim
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw FifthAmendment Takings JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2025-05-15
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a regulatory takings claim against the United States is ripe when a property owner demonstrates de facto finality and without obtaining the government's denial of a complete administrative application

Question Presented (from Petition)

Under Knick v. Township of Scott , 588 U.S. 180 (2019), a regulatory takings claim is ripe for adjudication in federal court when the government reaches a final decision concerning any restrictions on private property; exhausting state -litigation procedures is unnecessary. Pakdel v. City and County of San Francisco , 594 U.S. 474 (2021) (per curiam), likewise rejected administrative exhaustion as a condition of ripeness. Instead, Pakdel clarified that “nothing more than de facto finality is necessary” —meaning that “the government has reached a conclusive position” about how it will regulate the claimant’s property. Yet the Federal Circuit held in the decision below that “ Knick and Pakdel are inapplicable” to taki ngs claims against the United States. The court of appeals added that such claims are unripe until the owner satisfies “federal administrative agency exhaustion” by submit ting “a complete permit application.” The questions presented are: 1. Whether a regulatory takings claim against the United States is ripe when a property owner demonstrates “ de facto finality .” 2. Whether a property owner can show that his regulatory takings claim against the United States is ripe without obtaining the government’s denial of a complete application for administrative relief.

Docket Entries

2025-05-19
Petition DENIED.
2025-04-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/15/2025.
2025-04-18
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-04-18
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-04-17
Amicus brief of Mountain States Legal Foundation submitted.
2025-04-17
2025-03-10

Attorneys

James Doyle, et al.
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Petitioner
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Petitioner
Mountain States Legal Foundation
William E. TrachmanMountain States Legal Foundation, Amicus
William E. TrachmanMountain States Legal Foundation, Amicus
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
Sarah M. HarrisActing Solicitor General, Respondent