Opinion ID: 714033
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: analysis

Text: 7 Appellants claim that their property was taken without just compensation. The takings clause of the fifth amendment, made applicable to the states through the fourteenth amendment, 5 directs that private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation. 6 A just compensation claim is not ripe, that is, there is no justiciable case or controversy, until the claimant unsuccessfully has sought compensation from the state, unless that state's procedures are inadequate. 7 State procedures are inadequate when they almost certainly will not justly compensate the claimant. 8 A state's procedure is adequate even though its law is unsettled whether the claimant would be entitled to compensation. 9 8 The Texas Supreme Court recently held that, in a case such as this, a claimant does not state an inverse condemnation claim unless there has been a direct restriction on the use of the property. 10 Appellants have not alleged a direct restriction on the use of their land. 9 The Texas Supreme Court, however, expressly reserved the question whether a plaintiff states an inverse condemnation claim by alleging bad faith. 11 Because the second amended complaint alleges bad faith, it is unsettled whether appellants are entitled to compensation under Texas law. Accordingly, the just compensation claim is not ripe. 12 For the same reason, any alleged due process violation relating to the alleged taking of property is premature. 13 10 The district court properly dismissed appellants' claims that their property was taken without just compensation and without due process of law. 14 11
12 We review the district court's dismissal of a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) de novo, 15 accepting all well pleaded averments as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. 16 Dismissal is not proper unless it appears, based solely on the pleadings, that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim(s) warranting relief. 17
13 Appellees contend, and the district court held, that appellants failed to state a first amendment retaliation claim. 18 To establish such a claim, a plaintiff must prove: (1) defendants were acting under color of state law; (2) the plaintiff's activities were protected under the first amendment; and (3) the plaintiff's exercise of the protected right was a substantial or motivating factor for defendant's actions. 19 It is clear that state action designed to retaliate against and chill political expression strikes at the heart of the First Amendment. 20 14 The second amended complaint properly states a claim against appellees for retaliating against appellants for engaging in first amendment activities. First, the second amended complaint alleges that appellees acted under color of state law. 21 Next, the second amended complaint clearly alleges that appellants engaged in first amendment activity; it cannot be gainsaid that speaking out in opposition to a government policy is protected activity. 22 Finally, the second amended complaint alleges that appellees' actions toward appellants were motivated by appellants' protected activity. The second amended complaint supports that assertion with an allegation that only appellants' property was targeted for condemnation. For these reasons, the district court's order dismissing the first amendment retaliation claim is inappropriate and must be vacated.
15 The equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment is essentially a mandate that all persons similarly situated must be treated alike. 23 We may conduct an equal protection inquiry only if the challenged government action classifies or distinguishes between two or more relevant groups. 24 Under the equal protection analysis, we apply different standards of review depending upon the right or classification implicated. If a classification disadvantages a suspect class or impinges upon a fundamental right, the classification is subject to strict scrutiny. 25 Otherwise, we apply the less stringent rational basis review. Appellants' second amended complaint alleges that they have been treated differently than similarly situated individuals. Accordingly, the district court erred by dismissing the equal protection claim at this stage of the litigation.
16 Qualified immunity shields certain public officials performing discretionary functions from civil damage liability if 'their actions could reasonably have been thought consistent with the rights they are alleged to have violated.'  26 The protection afforded by this defense turns on the objective legal reasonableness of the defendant's conduct examined by reference to clearly established law. 27 Accordingly, we must determine whether a reasonable public official would have known that his or her conduct was illegal. 17 Accepting as true all well pleaded allegations, reasonable public officials would have understood that their actions violated appellants' clearly established constitutional right to be free from retaliation for exercising their first amendment right to free speech. Similarly, reasonable officials would have understood that their actions deprived appellants of their clearly established liberty interest in speech, and that the alleged differential treatment denied them equal protection of the law. Accordingly, the district court erred by determining, at this stage in the litigation, that appellees, in their individual capacities, were entitled to qualified immunity.
18 Rule 15(a) evinces a bias in favor of granting leave to amend, when justice so requires. 28 A decision to grant leave is within the discretion of the court, although if the court lacks a substantial reason to deny leave, its discretion is not broad enough to permit denial. 29 In exercising its discretion a court may consider undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, prejudice to the other party, and the futility of the proposed amendments. 19 The district court's order does not state its reasons for denying leave. Our review of the record reveals no substantial reason to deny leave to amend. Appellants should have been granted leave to file an amended complaint.
20 Finally, the district court's order dismissing the supplemental state law claims must now be vacated because the assigned justification, i.e., lack of a federal question, no longer appertains. 21 The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.