Inc. v. Kay R.I.S.E. - Significance, The King And Queen Landfill Dilemma, Community Mobilization, Impact, Further Readings

plaintiff racially virginia decision

Plaintiff

Residents Involved in Saving the Environment, Inc., and others

Defendant

King and Queen County Board of Supervisors consisting of five members: R. A. Kay, Jr., R. H. Bourne, J. R. Walton, R. F. Alsop, and W. L. Hickman

Plaintiff's Claim

That placing a landfill in a predominantly African American area results in a racially disproportionate impact and violates the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff

Sa'ad El-Amin

Chief Defense Lawyer

John Granville Douglass

Judge

Richard L. Williams (writing for the court)

Place

Richmond, Virginia

Date of Decision

21 June 1991

Decision

Ruled in favor of the Virginia county and allowed the project to proceed by finding that the racially disproportionate impact was not intentional.

Related Cases

Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co., 272 U.S. 365 (1926).
Washington v. Davis, 426 U.S. 229 (1976).
Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Corp., 429 U.S. 252 (1977).

Additional Topics

Inc. v. Kay R.I.S.E. - Significance

The district court established distinct standards for individuals and organizations legally challenging sanitary landfill siting decisions by local governments. To challenge such decisions on constitutional grounds such as racial discrimination the petitioner must establish that placement of a landfill in a predominately African American area resulted from intentional discrimination in violation o…

Inc. v. Kay R.I.S.E. - The King And Queen Landfill Dilemma

In 1986, King Land Corporation established a private landfill on a 120-acre site in King and Queen County, Virginia. With no existing county zoning ordinance at that time regarding landfill placement, King Land did not need to obtain county approval. The King Land landfill became an environmental disaster from the beginning as dumping began without the necessary geotechnical tests performed before…

Inc. v. Kay R.I.S.E. - Community Mobilization

In January of 1990, citizens concerned about the proposed landfill met in the Second Mt. Olive Baptist Church with three county supervisors and a city administrator. The citizens expressed concerns that the proposed landfill would reduce the quality of life of area residents by increasing noise, dust and odor. They were also worried the landfill would result in a decrease in the area's property va…

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