Kelo v. City of New London

New London (defendant) approved a development plan using eminent domain to acquire private properties for resale to private developers, aiming to create jobs and increase tax revenue. Susette Kelo and the Dery family (plaintiffs), among nine property owners whose homes fell within the condemned area, sued in Connecticut state court, arguing the taking violated the Fifth Amendment's public-use requirement since the properties would ultimately be transferred to other private owners rather than used for a traditional public purpose. The state trial court partially enjoined the takings, and the Connecticut Supreme Court upheld all of them on further review; the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.