Opinion ID: 2105836
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Bird-Strike Liability

Text: Finally, TCLC argues that civilian overflights from Bergstrom expose it to increased potential liability from bird strikes. There is no evidence, and TCLC does not even allege, that the bird-dispersal program already in place as a condition of TCLC's permit would, because of civilian overflights over and above the burdens imposed on its property by ongoing military overflights and the accompanying military-avigation easement, fail to properly protect its airspace from birds. Consequently, there is no support for TCLC's argument that it would face increased liability from bird strikes. Thus, the judgment has no evidentiary support on this basis. In sum, TCLC's taking claim focuses on nonspecific economic injuries and airspace invasion due to general airport operations. TCLC failed to allege, much less prove, that overflight-related effects from civilian overflights above and beyond the ongoing military overflights and the accompanying military-avigation easement directly, immediately, and substantially interfered with its use and enjoyment of the property. And because before and after the alleged taking TCLC was authorized to operate a Type IV landfillthe property's intended usethere is no evidence that the overflights rendered the property unusable for its intended purpose.