Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife

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Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife
Court U.S. Supreme Court
Citation 504 U.S. 555 (1992)
Date decided 1992

Facts

The plaintiffs challenged regulations concerning the Endangered Species Act, because the government would only comply with the act for actions taken in the United States or on the high seas, and there were violations of the act in Egypt and Sri Lanka.

Issues

Whether vague plans to someday visit a place where an injury will occur is actual or imminent injury that a case requires under constitutional standing.

Holding

Case dismissed.

Rule

Past exposure to illegal conduct does not in itself show a present case or controversy regarding injunctive relief.

Standing is not an ingenious academic exercise in the conceivable and requires at the summary judgment stage a factual showing of perceptible and actual harm.