Takings Law and the Regulatory State: A Response to R.S. Radford

In the Winter 1994 issue of the Fordham Urban Law Journal, R.S. Radford reviewed Dennis Coyle's book "Property Rights and the Constitution." Radford's theory relies on the idea that property rights deserve greater constitutional protection than they have received in the 60 years since the Supreme Court accepted the legitimacy of the regulatory state. This article reviews Radford's interpretation and criticism of Coyle's theory, analyzes Radford's theories in light of recent cases, and discussed the constitutional implications of Radford's analysis and how they relate to the economic regulations that they empower.