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Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595 (2d Cir. 1990). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
54 citation events (30 in the last 25 years) across 10 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Campbell v. Adams (nyed, 2024-09-30)
Treatment trajectory · 1990 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1990 2008 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 40 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Campbell v. Adams
E.D.N.Y · 2024 · confidence medium
To prevail on a procedural due process claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must (1) “identify a property right,” (2) “show that the state has deprived him of that right,” and (3) “show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Tang v. Visnauskas, 847 F. App’x 24 , 26 (2d Cir. 2021) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) WG Woodmere LLC v. Town of Hempstead
E.D.N.Y · 2022 · confidence medium
To state a substantive or procedural due process claim in a land use regulation case, “a party must first establish that he had a valid ‘property interest’ in a benefit that was entitled to constitutional protection at the time he was deprived of that benefit.” Zahra, 48 F.3d at 680 (substantive due process); Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990) (procedural due process).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Palmer v. The City of New York
E.D.N.Y · 2021 · confidence medium
To prevail on a procedural due process claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must (i) “identify a property right,” (ii) “show that the state has deprived him of that right,” and (iii) “show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Tang v. Visnauskas, 847 F. App’x 24 , 26 (2d Cir. 2021) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tang v. Grossman
E.D.N.Y · 2021 · confidence medium
Procedural Due Process “To prevail on a procedural due process claim, a plaintiff must (1) ‘identify a property right,’ (2) ‘show that the state has deprived him of that right,’ and (3) ‘show that the deprivation was effected without due process.’” Tang v. Visnauskas, — F. App’x —, 2021 WL 688293 , at *1 (2d Cir. Feb. 23, 2021) (summary order) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tang v. Visnauskas
2d Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
Procedural Due Process To prevail on a procedural due process claim, a plaintiff must (1) “identify a property right,” (2) “show that the state has deprived him of that right,” and (3) “show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990) (emphasis omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bar-Mashiah v. The Incorporated Village of Hewlett Bay Park
E.D.N.Y · 2019 · confidence medium
There is a second, related reason why Plaintiffs cannot claim a property interest with respect to Katz’s property and the Katz permits: “[a] person cannot claim a constitutionally protected property interest in uses of neighboring property on the ground that those uses may affect the market value of [plaintiff's] property.” Puckett v. City of Glen Cove, 631 F. Supp. 2d 226, 238-39 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990)); see Fusco v. State of Connecticut, 815 F.2d 201, 205-06 (2d Cir. 1987) (observing that “governmental action causing a decline in pr…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Thomas J. White v. City of Bridgeport
2d Cir. · 2017 · confidence medium
To prevail on a procedural due process claim, the plaintiff must “first identify a property right, second show that the State has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990) (per curiam); see Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 334 , 96 S.Ct. 893 , 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Meyers v. Kishimoto
D. Conn. · 2016 · confidence medium
Conn. March 27, 2012) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir. 1990)) (emphasis in original).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 33 Seminary LLC v. City of Binghamton
N.D.N.Y. · 2015 · confidence medium
Emps. v. Town Bd. of Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam)); A deprivation is ■effected without due process if the plaintiff is “deprived of an opportunity ... granted at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner for [a] hearing appropriate to the nature of the case.” Brady v. Town of Colchester, 863 F.2d 205, 211 (2d Cir.1988) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371, 378 , 91 S.Ct. 780 , 28 L.Ed.2d 113 (1971)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Doody v. Town of North Branford
D. Conn. · 2013 · confidence medium
DISCUSSION To prevail on a procedural due process claim, the plaintiff must “first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam) (emphasis omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) National Fuel Gas Supply Corp. v. Town of Wales
W.D.N.Y. · 2012 · confidence medium
Emps. v. Town Bd. of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kriss v. Fayette County
W.D. Pa. · 2011 · confidence medium
Nov. 15, 1996) (“One does not have a protected property interest in the use of neighboring property because that use may adversely affect the value of his property.” (citing Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990))); see also Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Dep’t of Envtl.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Puckett v. City of Glen Cove
E.D.N.Y · 2009 · confidence medium
Even if Plaintiff were to pursue such a claim, it is clear that no such right exists since “[a] person cannot claim a constitutionally protected property interest in uses of neighboring property on the ground that those uses may affect the market value of [plaintiffs] property.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Resource Services, LLC v. City of Bridgeport
D. Conn. · 2008 · confidence medium
Procedural Due Process In order to sustain an action for deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must “first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Salahuddin v. Goord
unknown court · 2006 · confidence medium
However, this court has ample discretion to excuse such a failure, and we are especially inclined to exercise that discretion where, as here, there can be no question of surprise as to the nature of the contention, and refusing to consider the issue would "result in substantial injustice,” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990). .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Scott v. Town of Monroe
D. Conn. · 2004 · confidence medium
“In order for a person to establish that the state has deprived him of property without due process, he must first identify a property right, second show that the' state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (citing Fusco v. State of Connecticut, 815 F.2d 201, 205 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 849 , 108 S.Ct. 149 , 98 L.Ed.2d 105 (1987)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ramapo Homeowners' Ass'n v. New York State Office of Mental Retardation (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
S.D.N.Y. · 2002 · confidence medium
Mem. at 16.) The *527 Padavan Law’s purpose, however, “is not to adjudicate property rights but to assess the pros and cons of various locations for group homes.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Van-Go Transport Co. v. New York City Board of Education
E.D.N.Y · 1999 · confidence medium
Employees, UMD, ILA, AFL-CIO v. Town Bd. of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990)) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Empire Transit Mix, Inc. v. Giuliani
S.D.N.Y. · 1999 · confidence medium
Employees, UMD, ILA, AFL-CIO v. Town Bd. of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191, 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam)). 24 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Rooney v. Wittich
S.D.N.Y. · 1998 · confidence medium
Employees v. Town Board of Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Smylis v. City of New York
S.D.N.Y. · 1997 · confidence medium
Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990). 8 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) X-Men Security, Inc. v. Pataki
E.D.N.Y · 1997 · confidence medium
In order to sustain such a claim, a plaintiff must “first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam). a. identification of a Property Right It is unclear from the complaint whether plaintiffs are claiming that the property right of which they were deprived was the continuation of X-Men’s month-to-month contract or an entitlement to be awarded a new contract *113 through the bidding process.
cited Cited as authority (rule) All Aire Conditioning, Inc. v. City of New York
S.D.N.Y. · 1997 · confidence medium
Local 342 v. Town Board of Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990)). 15 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Monroe v. Schenectady County
N.D.N.Y. · 1997 · confidence medium
Employees v. Town Board, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (2d Cir.1994); Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Grandal v. City of New York
S.D.N.Y. · 1997 · confidence medium
“In order to sustain an action for deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must ‘first identiffy] a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.’ ” Local 342 v. Town Bd. of Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McCormack Sand Co. v. Town of North Hempstead Solid Waste Management Authority
E.D.N.Y · 1997 · confidence medium
“In order to sustain an action for deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must ‘first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.’ ” Local 342, Long Island Public Service Employees v. Town Bd. of Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191 , 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Pisello v. Town of Brookhaven
E.D.N.Y · 1996 · confidence medium
Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam) ....
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Williams v. Perry
D. Conn. · 1996 · confidence medium
Employees v. Town Board of the Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191, 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (citing Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam)), the court concluded that “[i]n order to sustain an action for deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must ‘first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.’” “ ‘[Property’ within the sense of the [Fourteenth] amendment should [not] be extended to the purely dignitary or otherwise nonpecuniar…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rudolph v. Cuomo
S.D.N.Y. · 1996 · confidence medium
Due Process Claim In order to sustain an action' for the deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must “first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Irwin v. City of New York
S.D.N.Y. · 1995 · confidence medium
Employees, UMD, ILA, AFL-CIO v. Town Bd. of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191, 1194 (2d Cir.1994) (quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Clapp v. LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae
S.D.N.Y. · 1994 · confidence medium
To succeed on her property right due process claim, Clapp “‘must first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived [her] of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.’ ” Local 342, Long Island Public Service Employees v. Town Board of the Town of Huntington, 31 F.3d 1191, 1194 (2d Cir.1994) quoting Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Local 342, Long Island Public Service Employees v. Town Board of Huntington
2d Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
In order to sustain an action for deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must “first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.” Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Local 342, Long Island Public Service Employees, Umd, Ila, Afl-Cio v. Town Board Of The Town Of Huntington
2d Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
Specifically, the Union contends that the Taylor law proscribes the unilateral alteration of the terms of the CBA and that the Town's allegedly unauthorized and unilateral modification of the CBA by virtue of the May 7 resolution deprived the Union of a legitimate entitlement without due process of law. 21 In order to sustain an action for deprivation of property without due process of law, a plaintiff must "first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process." Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Fulilar v. City of Irwindale
C.D. Cal. · 1991 · confidence medium
Paratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 536 , 101 S.Ct. 1908, 1913 , 68 L.Ed.2d 420 (1981); Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2nd Cir.1990).
cited Cited "see" Hogan v. A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital
2d Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990).
cited Cited "see" Hogan v. A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital
2d Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990).
discussed Cited "see" Palmieri v. Town of Babylon
2d Cir. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See Mehta v. Surtes, 905 F.2d 595 , 598 (2d Cir.1990) (“In order for a person to establish that the state has deprived him of property without due pro cess, he must first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process.”).
cited Cited "see" McGuire v. Warren
S.D.N.Y. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Palaimo v. Lutz
2d Cir. · 1996 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See United States v. Quiroz, 22 F.3d 489, 490 (2d Cir1994) ("It is well established that 'an argument not raised on appeal is deemed abandoned' ...." (quoting United States v. Babwah, 972 F.2d 30, 34 (2d Cir.1992)); see also Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598 (2d Cir.1990) (per curiam) ("When a party represented by counsel fails to argue particular points, we may consider those points waived if to do so will not result in manifest injustice."). 6 4.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Woodward & Lothrop, Inc. v. Neall
D. Maryland · 1993 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Mehta v. Surles, 905 F.2d 595, 598-99 (2d Cir.1990); Fusco v. Connecticut, 815 F.2d 201, 205 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 849 , 108 S.Ct. 149 , 98 L.Ed.2d 105 (1987).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Dinesh Mehta and Pravina Mehta
v.
Richard C. Surles, as Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health of the State of New York the State of New York and Futura House Foundation, Inc.
767.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
May 29, 1990.
905 F.2d 595
Cited by 23 opinions  |  Published

905 F.2d 595

Dinesh MEHTA and Pravina Mehta, Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
Richard C. SURLES, as Commissioner of the Office of Mental
Health of the State of New York; The State of New
York; and Futura House Foundation,
Inc., Defendants-Appellees.

No. 767, Docket 89-7965.

United States Court of Appeals,
Second Circuit.

Argued Feb. 1, 1990.
Decided May 29, 1990.

Ronald J. Koerner, Rose & Koerner, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellants.

Yolanda M. Pizarro, Robert L. Schonfeld, Asst. Attys. Gen. for the State of N.Y., for appellees Surles and State of N.Y.

William Maker, Jr., Campbell, McMillan, Bosco, Penzel, Danzig & Maker, New Rochelle, N.Y., for appellee Futura House Found., Inc.

Before OAKES, Chief Judge, KEARSE, Circuit Judge, and FLETCHER, Circuit Judge.[1]

PER CURIAM:

FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS

[*~595]1

Appellants Dinesh and Pravina Mehta own a house on 367 Old Army Road in the town of Greenburgh, New York. They bought the house in 1979. In 1988 their former next-door neighbors, the Kims, who resided at 371 Old Army Road, sold their house to appellee Futura House for use as a "community residence" to care for as many as ten mentally ill adults. According to the Mehtas' affidavits, which we must accept as true on this review of a grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendants-appellees,[2] the residence will function as a halfway house; some residents will live in the house for less than a year before moving on.

2

The houses at 367 and 371 share a common driveway. The driveway opens onto Edgemont Circle, a back street, which is the only access for motor vehicles to either house. The driveway is partly on the Mehtas' property and partly on Futura's property. Because the driveway is narrow, persons visiting Futura must drive at least partly on the portion of the driveway that is on the Mehtas' premises.

3

It is undisputed that prior to Futura's purchase of 371, both the owners of lots 367 and 371 had easements over one another's portion of the driveway for ingress and egress. The nature of that easement is, however, disputed. The district court believed that 371 had an express easement dating back to the conveyance of 371 by the developer Model Homes of Westchester in 1963. Mehta v. Surles, 720 F.Supp. 324, 332 (S.D.N.Y.1989). In that conveyance, Model Homes included in the deed "an easement of right-of-way in common with others over Edgemont Circle, as shown on said map for ingress and egress to and from the above premises and Old Army Road." The original deed to 367 (now the Mehtas' property) had an identical provision. The Mehtas insist, however, that the easement "over Edgemont Circle" refers not to the driveway but to the road built by the developer so that residents would not have to use Old Army Road, a main thoroughfare. Because this is an appeal from a summary judgment, we assume without deciding that the Mehtas are correct that the deeds convey no express easements over either lot 367 or 371. We take as true the Mehtas' contention that prior to Futura's purchase, there was only an implied easement for the driveway in favor of lot 371 over their property. The Mehtas have submitted affidavits from the original homeowners of 367 and 371 stating that they understood the easement over the driveway to be limited to use incident to a single family home. The Mehtas allege that the group home's use of the driveway will overburden the easement.

4

Under Greenburgh's zoning ordinance, the lots at 367 and 371 Old Army Road are zoned R-15. That essentially means that each lot is restricted to use by a single "family." The zoning ordinance says that "[m]ore than five (5) persons, exclusive of domestic employees, not related by blood, marriage or adoption or guardianship shall not be considered to constitute a 'family.' " Such a definition of "family" would prevent residents of group homes like Futura from living in a neighborhood of single family houses were it not for a New York State law enacted in 1978, popularly known as the "Padavan Law." New York Mental Hygiene Law Sec. 41.34.

5

Under the Padavan Law, a "community residence" established pursuant to certain procedures is "deemed a family unit, for the purposes of local laws and ordinances." N.Y. Mental Hyg. Law Sec. 41.34(f). The procedures are spelled out in N.Y. Mental Hyg. Law Sec. 41.34(c).[3] Under the procedures, the municipality and the agency sponsoring the proposed community residence have certain procedural rights, most notably the right to a hearing before the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health, a state official (in this case appellee Surles). But there is no provision requiring the Commissioner to allow neighboring homeowners such as the Mehtas to become parties to the proceedings.

6

The Mehtas admit that the Padavan Law procedures were followed in this case. They argue that the procedures are constitutionally inadequate because they fail to allow affected homeowners such as themselves the right to participate in the hearing.[4]

[*~596]7

The Mehtas made a number of claims to the district court, all of which were rejected. They argued that they had a property right in the market value of their house and that the value was reduced and the right impaired by the state's allowing the group home to use land formerly zoned for single families. The Mehtas do not assert this kind of property right on appeal.

8

The Mehtas also asserted that the Padavan Law was unconstitutional in that it failed to make distinctions between different kinds of mentally-ill persons and that it was arbitrary and irrational for other reasons. They continue to press these equal protection and substantive due process claims in the "questions presented" portion of their brief, but they make absolutely no argument on these points. When a party represented by counsel fails to argue particular points, we may consider those points waived if to do so will not result in manifest injustice. See Dale v. Bartels, 732 F.2d 278, 284 n. 9 (2d Cir.1984); United States v. Loya, 807 F.2d 1483, 1487 (9th Cir.1987); Fed.R.App.P. 28(a)(4). No manifest injustice will result here. The district court fully considered and lucidly disposed of the equal protection and substantive due process claims in its opinion. Mehta, 720 F.Supp. at 335-337.

9

Finally, the Mehtas argued that they have been deprived of their property right in the driveway without procedural due process in violation of 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 because the Padavan Law is unconstitutional as applied to them. The procedural due process claim concerning the taking of the driveway is the only claim they have properly presented on appeal, and it is the only claim we address.

DISCUSSION

I.

10

In order for a person to establish that the state has deprived him of property without due process, he must first identify a property right, second show that the state has deprived him of that right, and third show that the deprivation was effected without due process. See Fusco v. State of Connecticut, 815 F.2d 201, 205 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 849, 108 S.Ct. 149, 98 L.Ed.2d 105 (1987). In this case, we need not address the third and most difficult step because the state procedures about which the Mehtas complain have not caused the deprivation of the property right identified by the Mehtas on appeal--the right to the driveway.

11

The Padavan Law does not purport to have any effect on individuals' substantive real property rights. The purpose of the Padavan Law's procedures is not to adjudicate property rights but to assess the pros and cons of various locations proposed for group homes. The approval of a site for a group home does not confer upon the owner of that site any defenses, privileges, or immunities in ordinary property actions brought by private parties. In stark contrast is the law that the United States Supreme Court struck down in Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp., 458 U.S. 419, 102 S.Ct. 3164, 73 L.Ed.2d 868 (1982), a case on which the Mehtas heavily rely. That law provided, "No landlord shall ... interfere with the installation of cable television facilities upon his property or premises ..." Id. at 423, 102 S.Ct. at 3169 (quoting former New York Exec.Law Sec. 828). The law in Loretto clearly provided cable television companies with a defense to trespass actions brought by landowners. Neither Futura nor the state has argued that the Padavan Law would provide such a defense in this case.

[*~597]12

The Padavan Law does provide a defense to actions based on local zoning ordinances, because the Mental Hygiene Law deems a licensed facility to be a single family home for the purposes of zoning. N.Y.Mental Hyg.Law Sec. 41.34(f). But the Mehtas do not assert, on appeal, a property right in the use of Futura's land at 371 Old Army Road. They claimed such a right in the district court, and the district court, relying on Fusco, properly rejected the claim. Mehta, 720 F.Supp. at 331. A person cannot claim a constitutionally-protected property interest in uses of neighboring property on the ground that those uses may affect the market value of his own property. Fusco, 815 F.2d at 206.

13

If the Padavan Law purported to affect the interpretation of easements and not just zoning laws, the Mehtas might have a claim that the law interfered with the property interest which they have identified. But the Padavan Law does not purport to do so. The alleged shortcomings of the state's procedures for selecting sites have no legal impact on easements.

14

The Mehtas point out that in addition to overriding local zoning laws, the Padavan Law makes one other change relevant to real property rights. It provides that the state's ordinary eminent domain procedures need not be followed when the Padavan Law procedures codified at N.Y.Mental Hyg.Law Sec. 41.34 have been followed. N.Y.Em.Dom.Proc.Law Sec. 206(E). The Mehtas argue that this provision has an impact on their rights, but we fail to see how Sec. 206(E) affects their rights in this case. New York did not exercise its eminent domain powers in allowing Futura to purchase and use the house at 371 Old Army Road. The Mehtas allege in their complaint that they filed a suit in state court asking, inter alia, for a preliminary injunction against Futura's alleged trespass. They do not allege that Futura raised Sec. 206(E) as a defense or that the court, in denying the preliminary injunction, relied on Sec. 206(E).

15

Because the Mehtas cannot establish that the procedures about which they complain relate to the deprivation of the right they assert, their procedural due process claim fails.

II.

16

The district court held that the questions whether Futura had an easement over the driveway and, if so, the scope, were not "ripe" for adjudication in federal court. Mehta, 720 F.Supp. at 334 n. 13. The district court's ripeness discussion was somewhat confusing; the court, in finding that the deed from Model Homes gave Futura an express easement with no limits, id. at 332 and n. 11, seemed to have addressed the very questions it subsequently purported to dismiss as unripe. We agree with the district court's conclusion that the question of whether the easement has been overburdened should not be addressed by a federal court, but we do not find "ripeness" to be the proper basis for this conclusion.

17

Since we have found that even if there has been a deprivation of the Mehtas' property rights, the Padavan Law is not the cause, we have disposed of the Mehtas' federal claims without reaching the state law easement question. The state law "property" question[5] was not presented to the district court independently as through a pendent or ancillary claim. Rather, it was simply presented as an issue that potentially had to be decided as a necessary antecedent to the decision of the federal question whether the Mehtas had received "due process of law." In light of our disposition, the question whether the easement has been overburdened presents a pure question of state law which will never be ripe for adjudication in federal court.[6] We do not address the issue simply because it is not necessary to the disposition of this case on appeal. Because it was also unnecessary for the district court to decide the question, we vacate the portion of the district court opinion addressing the nature and scope of the easement. The Mehtas have instituted trespass proceedings in state court. Their trespass claim should be decided there uncluttered by unnecessary determinations made by the federal courts.

[*~598]18

The judgment of the district court is affirmed in part and vacated in part.

1

Of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, sitting by designation

2

Although the defendants moved to dismiss the action for failure to state a claim under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), they presented and relied on exhibits and affidavits outside the complaint. We therefore treat their motion as one for summary judgment

3

Section 41.34(c)(1) provides:

When a site has been selected by the sponsoring agency, it shall notify the chief executive officer of the municipality in writing and include in such notice the specific address of the site, the type of community residence, the number of residents and the community support requirements of the program.... The municipality shall have forty days after the receipt of such notice to: (A) approve the site recommended by the sponsoring agency; (B) suggest one or more suitable sites within its jurisdiction which could accommodate such a facility; or (C) object to the establishment of a facility of the kind described by the sponsoring agency because to do so would result in such a concentration of community residential facilities for the mentally disabled in the municipality or in the area in proximity to the site selected or a combination of such facilities with other community residences or similar facilities licensed by other agencies of state government that the nature and character of the areas within the municipality would be substantially altered.

N.Y.Mental Hyg.Law Sec. 41.34(c)(1) (1988). If the municipality and the sponsoring agency cannot agree on a location for the community residence, either party can request an immediate hearing before the commissioner of the office of the department responsible for issuance of licenses and operating certificates to the proposed community residence. Id. at Sec. 41.34(c)(5).

4

Mr. Mehta, in fact, was called as a witness at the hearing, but he had no right to call witnesses himself or to present evidence; indeed, it seems that the fact he testified at all was somewhat fortuitous--he happened to be at the hearing, and the municipality's lawyer without prior notice spontaneously asked him to testify

5

The extent to which a state can unilaterally redefine or place conditions on accepted notions of "property" through changes in its positive law, and then claim that a deprivation of what once was "property" is no longer a deprivation of "property" because of the new definition or condition, is a federal question. See e.g. Nollan v. California Costal Commission, 483 U.S. 825, 833 n. 2, 107 S.Ct. 3141, 3146 n. 2, 97 L.Ed.2d 677 (1987); Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 542, 105 S.Ct. 1487, 1493, 84 L.Ed.2d 494 (1985). In this case there is no allegation that New York law regarding easements is an inadequate source of authority regarding what is "property."

6

There is no diversity of state citizenship in this case