No. 25-539

Johnathan H. Dinh, et al. v. United States

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-03
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Response Waived
Tags: fifth-amendment government-liability just-compensation property-rights takings-clause third-party-taking
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Environmental FifthAmendment Takings DueProcess Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-01-09
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Can Congress insulate itself from Fifth Amendment takings liability by creating a separate, third-party entity and authorizing that entity to 'independently' take private property without paying for it?

Question Presented (from Petition)

This Court has consistently held that, where the government authorizes a third party to take private property for public use, the government is liable for that taking.1 But the Federal Circuit has imposed a new (almost impossible to meet) additional burden on a plaintiff seeking to recover just compensation for a taking resulting from third-party actions: the plaintiff must show that the government also coerced the third party to take the property.2 Because the Federal Circuit is the only court of appeals with jurisdiction to hear claims for Fifth Amendment Just Compensation against the United States, this new standard imposes a prohibitively onerous burden in takings suits against the United States, conflicting with this Court’s and the Federal Circuit’s prior rulings.3 1. Can Congress insulate itself from Fifth Amendment takings liability by creating a separate, third-party entity and authorizing that entity to “independently” take private property without paying for it? 1. See, e.g. , Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid , 594 U.S. 139 (2021); Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp. , 458 U.S. 419 (1982). 2. Dinh v. United States , 145 F.4th 1316, 1324–26 (Fed. Cir. 2025) (Pet. App. 14a–16a). 3. See, e.g., Preseault v. United States , 100 F.3d 1525 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (en banc); Hendler v. United States , 952 F.2d 1364 (Fed. Cir. 1991). ii 2. To state a claim for a third-party taking under the Fifth Amendment must the property owner also show that the thirdparty was coerced into taking the property?

Docket Entries

2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-03
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-03
Amicus brief of Mark Elliott submitted.
2025-12-03
Brief amicus curiae of Mark Elliott filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-01
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-12-01
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-10-29
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 3, 2025)

Attorneys

Johnathan H. Dinh, et al.
Nancie G. MarzullaMarzulla Law, LLC, Petitioner
Nancie G. MarzullaMarzulla Law, LLC, Petitioner
Mark Elliott
Edward McLean Lyman IIIFamily Legal, A Professional Law Corporation, Amicus
Edward McLean Lyman IIIFamily Legal, A Professional Law Corporation, Amicus
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent