Opinion ID: 46231
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: State Takings Claims against the MRHA and Murphy

Text: 82 The plaintiff's state takings claims are a different matter. We reach the merits of the plaintiff's state takings claims, because, unlike the federal takings claims just discussed, Williamson County does not directly apply, and, unlike the state takings claims against the City of Jackson, the relevant government entity here has made a final decision as required by Mississippi law. 16 83 We nevertheless hold that the MRHA's actions did not effect a taking, regulatory or otherwise. The MRHA did not force the Town Creek tenants to abandon their leases, nor can it be said that the MRHA's issuance of vouchers interfered with Town Creek's reasonable investment-backed expectations. The tenants were simply given an option to either accept the voucher and use it elsewhere, or to decline the voucher and remain under their leases at Town Creek. It is, in fact, undisputed that a few tenants did remain at Town Creek, and that the MRHA continued to subsidize their leases through the existing Mod Rehab program. We find that, as a matter of law, the evidence does not suffice to show that the tenants' leases were taken by the MRHA's issuance of housing-choice vouchers in the aftermath of the flood. Accordingly, we reverse the district court's denial of the MRHA and Murphy's motion for judgment as a matter of law on the Mississippi takings claims. 84