Author Archives: momunicipallaw

No Constitutional Right To Grow Marijuana

St. Louis City police detectives went to Shanklin’s residence after a “utility inquiry” showed excessive electricity use, consistent with marijuana cultivation. The police discovered more than 300 live marijuana plants, several hundred grams of packaged marijuana, a mesh dryer, and … Continue reading

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Sex Stereotyping Is Gender Discrimination

In the last two years, the Court of Appeals for the Western District of Missouri (Western District) has decided three significant cases, all interrelated, dealing with gender discrimination, gender identity and sex stereotyping. The latest, decided by the Western District … Continue reading

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Eastern District Issues Landmark Decision Upholding The Power Of Home Rule Cities To Tax Without A Grant From General Assembly

The opinion in Neuner v City of St. Louis is one for the ages.  It is the most significant opinion, with respect to constitutional home rule powers, since the adoption of the 1971 amendmenOnt to the Missouri Constitution granting constitutional … Continue reading

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Eighth Circuit Upholds Minnesota Law Prohibiting Robocalls

It is hard to find anything more annoying or despised than robocalls. Recently the Eighth Circuit in Gresham v. Swanson, upheld a Minnesota law prohibiting robocalls against a free speech challenge.  The Petitioner in the Minnesota case sought a preliminary … Continue reading

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Westboro Baptist Church Redux    

Westboro Baptist Church is like a bad penny. You know the punch line. It keeps showing up. So here’s another Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision,  in a long line of  Eighth Circuit, Westboro Baptist Church cases, upholding an Iowa state … Continue reading

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Harris–Stowe State University Gets Hit With Five Million Dollar Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

Harris–Stowe State University (Harris–Stowe), located in the City of St. Louis, recently lost an employment discrimination case based on reverse discrimination (black on white) where the jury awarded over $5 million dollars  in compensatory damages,   punitive damages and attorney … Continue reading

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The United States Supreme Court Clarifies Law Of Regulatory Takings

If your community is involved in a regulatory taking claim it is imperative that you understand the opinion in Murr v. Wisconsin. This opinion  by the United States Supreme Court  is powerful, making it the definitive source for understanding regulatory takings … Continue reading

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Internet Is Ultimate Free Speech Forum

The Internet is the “modern day town square” in which each of us can “become a town crier with a voice that resonates further than it could from any soapbox.” “While in the past there may have been difficulty in … Continue reading

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Missouri Constitution Does Not Prohibit A Religious Institution From Participating In Program that Provided Playground Safety Materials From Recycled Tires

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… These, simple, concise and powerful words – fifteen in number – cemented in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution the separation … Continue reading

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No Search Warrant Required To Search Cell Phone If There Are Exigent Circumstances

Law tracks technology. A recent case, involving the Vermont State Police allowed the police to track a person suspected of murdering someone, without obtaining a search warrant, based upon exigent circumstances by pinging the suspect’s cell phone. In the Vermont … Continue reading

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