Also known as: sufficiently connected · nexus
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A relationship or link between a person or activity and a jurisdiction, interest, or governmental objective that is adequate to trigger constitutional protections or to sustain regulatory conditions.
Summit Bank sought a permit to expand its branch. The city required dedication of a strip for a public greenway. The bank showed that the expansion would generate only modest additional traffic. Because the dedication lacked rough proportionality to that limited impact, the condition could not stand.
Sierra Solutions applied for a beachfront development permit. The county conditioned approval on an easement allowing public access across the property. The easement did not mitigate any specific harm caused by the project, so the condition failed.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Spectrum Financial sought a rezoning to build offices. The city refused the permit unless the firm paid a large sum for off-site traffic improvements. The payment demand lacked the required connection to the project's actual effects, rendering the denial a taking.
Samuel Soto, a Mexican citizen, owned a home in Mexico searched by U.S. agents. He had never lived in or visited the United States. Because he lacked sufficient connection to the national community, he could not invoke Fourth Amendment protections.
Synergy Systems faced a large punitive damages award in a bad-faith insurance case. The award rested partly on the insurer's nationwide practices unrelated to the plaintiff's claim. The court required a sufficient connection between the out-of-state conduct and the harm before allowing the full amount.
Sebastian Santos worked selling newspapers. The publisher treated him as an independent contractor. The Board examined whether the economic realities created a sufficient connection of control and dependence to classify him as an employee under the labor statute.
A non-citizen must demonstrate that he or she is part of the national community or has otherwise developed sufficient connection with the country to be considered part of that community. Mere presence during a criminal investigation or prosecution does not automatically create that link.
The government must show an essential nexus between the permit condition and a legitimate interest that would justify denying the permit outright. The condition must also be roughly proportional to the projected impact of the development.
Yes. The Nollan/Dolan standards apply to demands for money as well as dedications of real property. Refusal to issue a permit because the applicant rejects an unsupported monetary condition constitutes a taking.
The government must demonstrate that the exaction is roughly proportional in nature and extent to the projected impact of the proposed development.
…the Court in Hanson determined that the defendant over which personal jurisdiction was claimed had not committed any acts sufficiently connected to the State to justify jurisdiction under the International Shoe standard. [^maj-21]: Cf. Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 59, Comment a (possible inconsistency between…