Reason magazine, (click here) reports that what was left of the lawsuit against Carla T. Main, author of the acclaimed book Bulldozed: “Kelo,” Eminent Domain and the American Lust for Land (Encounter Books 2007), has been dismissed by the plaintiff, a Texas developer, who sued for defamation when the book came out. The book was critical of a Texas redevelopment case seeking to take the land belonging to the Gore family in Freeport, Texas. Jacob Sullum, Developer Who Sued Author for Criticizing Eminent Domain Abuse Drops His Case, December 12, 2011.
The Texas Court of Appeals threw out most of the suit earlier, holding that Main’s writing was protected by law as legitimate cricism of government. Main v. Royall, 348 S.W.3d 381 (Tex.Ap. p. 2011). Now the whole shebang has been dismissed.
By the way, apart from her book, we recommend Ms. Main’s earlier article on eminent domain, How Eminent Domain Ran Amok, Policy Review, October & November 2005, at p. 133.