Eastern Enterprises v. Apfel

1998

Court: US Supreme Court

Facts: Hideously complex. Eastern got out of the coal business, but Congress may make them liable for health care for former workers...

Posture: Many appeals.

Issue: Is the coal act, by its retroactive nature, an unconstitutional taking from Eastern?

Holding: Yes.

Rule: You can't impose a disproportionate and retroactive burden.

Reasoning: Lots of it, but it's convoluted. Interesting, though, that the court is meddling in economic policy once again.

Dicta: Many concurrances and dissents.