Susan just received bad news. A business developer in her town is going to build a new shopping mall. The mall will be located near her house. She received a letter in the mail today stating the city would be buying her house for the assessed value of the land. The assessed value is a value created by a local board of property tax purposes. Susan wants to know if the city can take her land and then sell it to a private business and whether she can claim she is owed more money than the assessed value of her house.

Miguel recently purchased his first home. He is very excited about making improvements to the home. He decides it would be cheaper if he had his own water source so he digs a well in his backyard. Next, he decides to construct a large building right next to the edge of his property. The following winter provides almost no precipitation in the form of rain or snow. The following spring, Miguel gets a letter from his neighbor Stephen claiming Miguel has stolen Stephen's water source digging a well. Miguel decides not to say anything and hopes his neighbor won't pursue any further legal action. Much to Miguel's relief, summer rains are heavy and the rainwater bounces off his shed and creates a lake in Stephen's backyard. Miguel has received another letter from Stephen again claiming wrongdoing on the part of Miguel because of the lake. What is Miguel's liability in regard to the well and the rainwater that is deflecting off his shed? Please list the rules his state may apply to each source of the water at dispute in this problem as part of your analysis.

These two questions have me puzzled.