Cole v. City of La Grange, 113 U.S. 1 (1885), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the court held that the general grant of legislative power in a state constitution only enables the legislature to use eminent domain or taxation to take private property, without the owner's consent, for a public purpose.Syllabus of . Paul W. Tschetter, Kelo v. New London: A Divided Court Affirms the Rational Basis Standard of Review in Evaluating Local Determinations of Public Use, 51 S.D. L. Rev. 193, 216 n.166 (2006).Charles J. Fain, The Use of the Power of Eminent Domain by Missouri Electric Cooperatives, 17 Mo. L. Rev. 159 (April 1952).
Background The city of La Grange attempted to use eminent domain to condemn property for the benefit of La Grange Iron and Steel Company to expand that served no public benefit.
Decision The Court held that the Missouri legislature could not authorize La Grange to issue bonds to assist corporations in their private business.
Citation in future cases The case was cited in the dissenting opinion of Justice Thomas in Kelo v. City of New London, .
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