Pennell v. City of San Jose (1987)
- Docket
- 86-753
- Decided
- 1987-01-01
Summary
Question: Did the ordinance violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause? Conclusion: No. The Court held that the ordinance was rationally crafted to protect the financial investments of landlords while simultaneously preventing tenants from becoming victims of burdensome rent increases. The City argued the ordinance satisfied a need. This view was uncontested and, according to Justice Rehnquist, represented a "legitimate and rational" means to protect "consumer welfare."