GA Appeals Court Finds No Vested Rights and that a Valid Moratorium Existed

This post was authored by Sebastian Perez, JD

The question before the Court of Appeals of Georgia (the “Court”) was at what point a landowner had vested rights in real property where Plaintiff purchased the subject property (the “Property”) to develop 9,000 square foot lots when the county’s zoning code (the “Code”) allowed for such density at the time but was later amended to require larger sizes. After the county, where the Property was located, passed, and extended a moratorium on processing land disturbance permits, the Plaintiff’s application to develop the Property was returned due to the moratorium. Plaintiff sought

Substantial progress in homicide investigation of other teens

Behind the scenes, progress is being made in the homicide investigation of Stephen Smith, a Smith family attorney said this week.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which took over the Smith’s cold case and began investigating the unsolved death in the summer of 2021, is now making “substantial” progress, attorney Eric Bland said.

SLED Chief Mark Keel has been keeping the Smith family updated, and the most recent SLED update was promising, Bland said.

“According to Chief Keel, they (SLED) have some individuals in mind who have some knowledge and responsibility, and they are issuing subpoenas and warrants,”

Woman, toddler daughter fatally shot, father found dead near river bank

FRANKLIN, NH — A man fatally shot a woman, their 18-month-old daughter, and wounded another child before he was found dead hours later of an apparent suicide on the bank of the Merrimack River, the New Hampshire attorney general’s office said.

The man, Jamie Bell, 42, was seen fleeing a home in Franklin on Saturday afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Adam Woods said during an evening news conference. Neighbors said they had heard gunshots.

Police arrived at the home to find Nicole Hughes, 35, and Ariella Bell, her daughter with Jamie Bell, shot to death, Woods said.

Woods said Hughes and

Lead detective scrutinized during cross-examination in the Travis Rudolph murder trial

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Testimony continued Friday in the murder trial of former Florida State and NFL wide receiver Travis Rudolph.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Detective Emily Vander-Laan, the lead detective in the April 2021 shooting death of Sebastien Jean-Jacques, returned to the witness stand Friday morning for cross-examination as Rudolph’s defense attorney attempted to smear her investigative efforts.

Rudolph, 27, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting outside the ex-college football star’s Lake Park home more than two years ago.

During cross-examination, defense

Podugu – Spring 2023 – MJEAL

The Supreme Court Case that Threatens to Upend US Labor Law

Priyanka Podugu


Within the next few months, the Supreme Court will release its decision for Glacier Northwest v. Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters, a case that has held the attention of union activists and corporate leaders, alike. The case reached the Supreme Court in the aftermath of a 2017 strike organized by Teamsters on behalf of truck drivers employed by Glacier Northwest, a Seattle-based company that manufactures cement.[1] The union timed the labor strike to begin after Glacier Northwest employees filled the company’s trucks with cement, causing some

Shalloway – Spring 2023 – MJEAL

The Role of Electric Vehicles in Michigan

Eric A. Shalloway


In the state of Michigan, gas taxes contribute funds to improve roads and infrastructure, but between 2019-2021 it is estimated that there was a $50 million decrease in revenue due to electric vehicle owners not paying the tax.[1] The Michigan County Road Association explained that approximately 840 miles of roads would not be resurfaced annually, due to the loss of revenue.[2] Motor vehicles[3] have a role in the Michigan economy, and new electric vehicle manufacturing sites are increasing in the state.[4] The gas tax is increasing from 27.2 cents per

Fed. Dist. Court in ND Says No Preliminary Injunction to Prohibit Fargo from Excluding Adult Toy Store Downtown

This post is authored by Andrew LW Peters originally appeared on the Rocky Mountain Sign Law Blog and is reposted with permission.

The Federal District Court for the District of North Dakota denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have forced the City of Fargo to allow a “premier adult toy retailer” to open a downtown location.

The case arose out of a zoning dispute between plaintiff “Romantix” and Fargo’s planning department. Romantix is ​​considered itself just another eligible retailer to locate downtown. City officials disagreed, saying that Romantix’s business of selling sexual devices instead made it an

Seventh Circuit Upholds Sign Code Variance Procedure

This post was authored by Julie Tappendorf and Tyler Smith of Ancel Glink and originally posted in the Municipal Minute and reposted with permission

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled against a billboard company in its First Amendment challenge to a county’s sign code. GEFT Outdoors, LLC v. Monroe County.

A billboard company sought to install a digital billboard which did not comply with the county’s sign code regulations. The company applied for a variance from the County’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZOA). After the BZOA denied the variance request, the billboard company sued the county under a