Rebekah Ramirez

Private Property | Zoning Justice Project

Retiree’s Construction of Dream Home Blocked by Nonsensical Zoning from City After Decades of Planning

Art Yatsko has been working towards a dream for the last 20 years. But as Art was ready to begin construction, he was told he could no longer build a modest single-family home in his neighborhood—it had been rezoned, along with every other open lot of land in his neighborhood.

Commercial Speech | First Amendment

Equine Body Work Teachers Sue Wisconsin for Violation of First Amendment Right to Occupational Speech

Jim Masterson has been working with animals for almost 30 years. But Wisconsin said he can’t teach without subjecting Jim’s school to an all-encompassing review of everything from Jim’s curriculum to intrusive inquiries into his business model.

Immunity and Accountability | Rule of Law

Atlanta Woman Sues Officers, U.S. Government for Wrongly Raiding Her Home in Search of Man Already in Jail

More than a dozen heavily armed law enforcement officers stormed Cathy George's apartment, looking for a fugitive who had no connection to Cathy and who was already in custody.

First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation

Arizona Educator Sues County Attorney Whose Hired Thugs Bullied Him Out of Election Campaign

Fernie Madrid ran for school superintendent in Apache, but he was running against the wife of the County Attorney, Michael Whiting. Whiting used his employees to retaliate against Fernie and bully him out of the race. Now, Fernie is suing over the violation of his First Amendment rights.

Private Property

Miami's Unconstitutional Land Taking Scheme Targets More Than a Thousand Homeowners Across the City

A Miami homeowner and Navy veteran is challenging the city's practice of demanding that permit applicants surrender portions of their property without just compensation.

4th Amendment Project | License Plate Readers | Rule of Law | Warrantless Surveillance

Federal lawsuit challenges city's prolonged, warrantless surveillance of entire driving public

Norfolk, Virginia has installed more than 170 cameras across the city that watch drivers' every movement. Now, two Norfolk-area residents have teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a federal lawsuit challenging the program.

First Amendment

Attorney files federal lawsuit challenging court's gag order rule

Nashville civil rights attorney Daniel Horwitz was silenced by a gag order, after discussing his cases with the media. Now, he's teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a federal First Amendment lawsuit against the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, challenging the rule that was used to impose the gag order.

Commercial Speech | First Amendment

Owner of medical cannabis dispensary files federal lawsuit challenging Mississippi's ban on truthful advertising

If it’s legal to sell a product, it’s also legal to talk about that product. But not in Mississippi—at least not if the product is medical marijuana.   In 2022 Mississippi…

Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Food Freedom

Lawsuit Seeks to Strike Down Regulations that Prevent Businesses From Truthfully Labeling Products

Federal food labeling restrictions prevent tens of millions of Americans with sensitive stomachs from receiving the information they need about low-FODMAP foods.

Civil Forfeiture | Private Property

The FBI Hasn’t Said What This Couple Did Wrong, But Is Taking Their Savings Anyway

Linda Martin's home savings were seized by the FBI. She received a confusing forfeiture notice that didn't clearly say what she did wrong for the government to want to take her money.

Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Private Property | Vending

Small Business Owners Sue to Strike Down Jacksonville Regulations Effectively Banning Food Trucks From City

Jacksonville, North Carolina effectively bans food trucks from operating in 96 percent of the city. That's why a group of small business owners has teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a lawsuit challenging Jacksonville's regulations.

Immunity and Accountability | Rule of Law

Oakland Activist Sues to Hold Postal Officers Accountable for Illegal Search and Seizure of his Mail

The U.S. Post Office cannot open someone's mail without getting a warrant.

Educational Choice

Ohio Parents Fight to Defend the State’s School Choice Programs

Two of Ohio’s most popular educational choice programs are under attack. This IJ suit seeks to defend these programs, which tens of thousands of Ohio students depend on.

Civil Forfeiture | Private Property

Class Action Lawsuit Aims to End For-Profit Prosecutions in Indiana

In Indiana, prosecutors profit off the civil forfeiture cases they prosecute, creating perverse incentives that strips Hoosiers of their basic due process rights. A federal class action lawsuit from IJ seeks to end for-profit prosecutions in Indiana.

Economic Liberty | Vending

Food-Truck Owners Battle City’s Anti-Competitive Ordinance

Tarpon Springs, Florida bans food trucks from operating in the downtown area, unless the owner also has a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The owners of one food truck are working with IJ to fight for their right to earn an honest living.

4th Amendment Project | Rule of Law | Warrantless Surveillance

Florida Parents Partner with IJ to Shut Down Dystopian “Predictive Policing” Program

In true dystopian fashion, Pasco County in Florida, harasses people at their own homes through a method called “predictive policing.” The system tramples on the rights of Pasco residents by placing them under near-constant surveillance. A group of parents have joined with IJ to challenge this unconstitutional system.

Fines and Fees | Private Property | Rule of Law

Homeowner Facing $100,000 Parking Violation Sues Florida Town for “Excessive Fines”

Sandy Martinez received more than $100,000 in fines for how she parked on her own driveway. This excessive fine not only threatens to financially cripple Sandy, it’s also unconstitutional and is the reason she has partnered with IJ.

Housing Abundance and Affordability | Private Property | Right to Shelter | Zoning Justice Project

Sierra Vista, Arizona, Residents Sue City to Keep Their Homes in Place

Under the guise of “zoning,” the city of Sierra Vista, Arizona is threatening to kick residents out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic. With IJ’s help, these residents are fighting back to save their homes.

Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Occupational Licensing

Lawsuit Challenges Arizona Engineering Licensing Law

Greg Mills has been an engineer for more than 30 years, but now a group of industry insiders on a government board are saying he needs a license he does not actually need. IJ and Greg are appealing a lower court’s decision that said Greg must endure a lengthy administrative process before he can assert his constitutional rights in court.

Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Food Freedom

Mississippi Makes Selling “Veggie Burgers” a Crime

In 2019, after lobbying from the meat industry, Mississippi banned plant-based burgers from using meat-related words, such as burger or hotdog, in their marketing. IJ stepped in to represent plant-based companies in a First Amendment challenge to this law, and eventually the state backed down.

Fines and Fees | Private Property | Rule of Law

Florida Man Could Lose His Home For Having Long Grass

Nobody should lose their home because their grass is too long, but that’s exactly what the city of Dunedin is trying to do to Jim Ficken. Jim and IJ are fighting back against these excessive fines and fees in court, to protect the property rights of everyone.

Economic Liberty | Vending

Food Truck Owners Challenge One of the Most Anti-Competitive Vending Restrictions in the Country

Fort Pierce, Florida used to have an incredibly restrictive rule that banned food trucks from operating within 500 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. After two food truck operators partnered with IJ, a court ruled the ordinance was unconstitutional and the city repealed it.

Economic Liberty | Vending

Food-Truck Owners Challenge Ban on Competition

In late August 2018, a little over a week after IJ launched a lawsuit, challenging Carolina Beach’s food truck restrictions, the town repealed its food truck restrictions due to the threat of IJ’s lawsuit.

Commercial Speech | Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Food Freedom | Food Freedom

Maryland Dairy Farmers Sue for Right to Tell the Truth

The FDA prevented Randy Sowers from labelling his skim milk as “skim milk” even though that’s exactly what it is. The First Amendment protects Randy’s right to tell the truth about his product, and after IJ stepped in to help, the FDA decided to end this enforcement.

Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Occupational Licensing | Occupational Speech

Florida Health Coach Threatened with Jail and Big Fines for Merely Offering Dietary Advice

Florida requires a license in order to provide dietary advice to a customer. Diet advice is simply a type of speech that should be protected by the First Amendment, and that’s why Heather Kokesch Del Castillo is working with IJ to sue the state over its unconstitutional licensing scheme.

Cosmetology | Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Occupational Licensing | Occupational Speech

License to Teach: North Carolina Forces Makeup Artists to Teach Unrelated Skills or Face Thousands in Fines

Jasna Bukvic-Bhayani is a North Carolina-based professional makeup artist who wanted to open up a school to teach others how to apply makeup like her. But the state wanted her to open a full-fledged esthetics school, which would cost her hours of classes and thousands of dollars. After six months of litigating, the Board agreed to allow stand-alone makeup schools to operate without an unnecessary, government-issued license.

Rule of Law | Unjust Proceedings

Waive Your Rights or Else: Challenging NYPD’s Use of “No-Fault” Eviction to Compel Innocent Residents and Businesses to Give Up Constitutional Rights

Private Property | Small and Home-Based Business | Zoning Justice Project

Land Grab in Dallas

Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing | Transportation

City Established a Monopoly for the Only Taxi Business in Town, Preventing Competition and Prohibiting Consumer Choice

Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Food Freedom

Censored in Florida: Creamery Owner Sues to End Labeling Censorship

Ocheesee Creamery is censored from honestly labeling its skim milk as skim milk.