I have seen many instances of governmental incompetence and many instances of governmental venality, but one in New Orleans combines both. The disregard for property rights and due process of law is amazing.

The Garretts bought land with a run-down townhouse on it from the city for $7,000, intending to renovate it. Several months later they were shocked to discover that the city had sent in a wrecking crew and demolished the building. They had received no notice at all. When they contacted the city to complain, it responded by sending them a bill for the demolition work — $11,000. They didn’t pay, but hired an attorney, who found that the city had sent a notification of the impending demolition to the property’s former owner, who had sold it to New Orleans 17 years before.

Would New Orleans admit its ridiculous blunder and make the Garretts whole? No. So they sued in federal district court. Would the city settle to avoid the cost of litigation? No. Instead, its legal team argued that the court didn’t have jurisdiction because the case wasn’t “ripe.” The judge bought that argument and dismissed the complaint.

With the help of Pacific Legal Foundation, the Garretts are appealing this travesty of justice to the Fifth Circuit and I write about the case in my latest essay in Forbes.