Standing your ground

Entrepreneur,  Oct, 2005  by Joshua Kurlantzick

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STANDING YOUR GROUND: In June, the Supreme Court upheld cities' right to use eminent domain, or condemnation, to give land to large businesses to bolster economic development. (In the past, eminent domain was typically reserved for public uses, such as building roads.) Since bigger companies can deliver more tax revenue to cities, the ruling will make it more difficult for small landholders to fight eminent domain in state courts.

Still, entrepreneurs have some recourse. The Senate and the House of Representatives are considering limiting the use of eminent domain to benefit big business; state legislatures have taken up the issue; and small landholders, via an organization called the Castle Coalition, have organized protests denouncing the ruling. Eminent domain opponents are even getting creative: One group is trying to condemn Supreme Court Justice David Souter's property.

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