No. 15-214 In the Supreme Court of the United States JOSEPH P. MURR, ET AL., PETITIONERS, v. STATE OF WISCONSIN, ET AL. ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE WISCONSIN COURT OF APPEALS BRIEF FOR RESPONDENT STATE OF WISCONSIN BRAD D. SCHIMEL MISHA TSEYTLIN Attorney General Solicitor General Counsel of Record STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DANIEL P. LENNINGTON 17 West Main Street LUKE N. BERG Madison, WI 53703 Deputy Solicitors General
[email protected] (608) 267-9323 Attorneys for the State of Wisconsin QUESTION PRESENTED Whether land lots that were created and defined under state law, which merged pursuant to a preex- isting state law merger provision, are a single “parcel” for regulatory takings purposes. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page QUESTION PRESENTED ......................................... i INTRODUCTION .......................................................1 STATEMENT ..............................................................2 A. Land Lots Are Creatures Of State Law ..........2 B. Lot Merger Is A Commonly-Used Tool For Phasing Out Substandard Lots .......................8 C. Factual Background ....................................... 13 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ................................... 23 ARGUMENT ............................................................. 27 I. As This Court Suggested In Lucas, The Relevant Land “Parcel” Should Be Defined By Objectively “Reasonable Expectations,” As “Shaped By The States’ Law Of Property” ......................................................... 27 II. Contiguous, Commonly Owned Land Lots Are One “Parcel” Under The Approach Suggested By Lucas Where—As Here—The Lots Are Merged Under State Law ................ 37 III. Even If This Court Decides That A Multifactor Analysis Is Warranted, The Lots Here Are Still One “Parcel” ................... 43 CONCLUSION .......................................................... 47 iii TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Cases Appolo Fuels, Inc. v. United States, 381 F.3d 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2004) ........................... 44 Ariz. State Legislature v.