DeVillier et al. v. Texas, Docket No. 22-913

The Supreme Court ruled on a case involving property owners in Texas, led by Richard DeVillier. The Court decided that these property owners can seek compensation for their claims under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. However, they will do this through Texas state law instead of directly under the Fifth Amendment itself.

This ruling overturned a previous decision made by the Fifth Circuit Court, which had said that property owners could not bring their claims against the state under the Takings Clause. The Supreme Court's decision allows these property owners to move forward with their claims, giving them a chance to seek the compensation they believe they deserve.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion, and the decision was supported by several other justices. This case highlights the ongoing conversation about property rights and how they are protected under the law. It’s a significant step for property owners in Texas, as they now have a clearer path to pursue their claims.

Summary of the Case

The case of DeVillier et al. v. Texas arose from a dispute involving property owners, led by Richard DeVillier, whose land was flooded due to the construction of a median barrier along U.S. Interstate Highway 10 by the State of Texas. This barrier was intended to serve as a dam to facilitate food evacuation during storms. However, it resulted in significant flooding of the petitioners' properties during hurricanes and tropical storms, leading to extensive damage. DeVillier filed a lawsuit in Texas state court, claiming that the state had effectively taken his property without just compensation, in violation of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The case was removed to federal court, where the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Takings Clause did not provide a right of action against the state, prompting the petitioners to seek Supreme Court review.

Opinion of the Court

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion delivered by Justice Thomas, held that property owners like DeVillier could pursue their claims for just compensation under the Takings Clause through the existing cause of action provided by Texas law. The Court clarified that while the Takings Clause is self-executing in terms of the right to compensation, it does not inherently provide a direct cause of action for enforcement. Instead, the Court emphasized that Texas law offers an inverse-condemnation cause of action, allowing property owners to seek compensation for takings. The Court vacated the Fifth Circuit's decision and remanded the case, allowing the petitioners to proceed with their claims under Texas law.

The ruling was unanimous.

Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment

The case highlights the nuanced relationship between constitutional rights and the mechanisms for enforcing those rights. The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment guarantees just compensation for property taken for public use, but it does not automatically create a cause of action for property owners to sue states directly. Instead, the Court recognized that states may provide their own legal frameworks for addressing such claims, as Texas does through its inverse-condemnation law. This distinction is significant because it underscores the principle that while constitutional rights are fundamental, the procedural avenues for enforcing those rights can vary by jurisdiction. The Court's decision reinforces the idea that states have a responsibility to uphold constitutional protections while also allowing them to establish their own legal processes for addressing claims related to property takings.