For nearly a decade, a California town fought to seize its privately owned water utility

In a landmark decision, California's Supreme Court dismissed a town's claim regarding the use of eminent domain for utility purposes.

The judges emphasized the need for a thorough, independent evaluation of necessity declarations before any utility can be seized.

This shift significantly impacts how courts will weigh municipal efforts to take over private utility companies, allowing private water, gas, and electricity firms to challenge such actions more effectively.