Jun 22, 2015

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules in favor of raisin grower

According to multiple new organizations, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a California raisin grower arguing that government agencies should not be allowed to claim control of a portion of a crop.

Here’s more from the LA Times:

The justices said Marvin Horne from Fresno deserves to be compensated for the official seizure of his personal property.

The 5th Amendment forbids the government from taking private property without paying “just compensation,”and the high court said this protection applies to raisins as well as real estate.

Chief Justice John Roberts spoke for a 5-4 majority. Several of the liberal justices agreed in theory but stopped short of saying Horne was due money for part of his raisin crop.

The ruling deals a blow to the last of the New Deal-era farm programs that authorize growers to join together to prop up the market prices for their products. The raisin board had the support of most growers, and its “marketing orders”had the backing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The ruling means that Horne does not have to pay previously imposed fines by USDA.

Specifics about the case are available here.