"Little Pink House": Kelo vs. New London, Conn.

***Southern Virginia University Press Release***

In between teaching classes at Southern Virginia University, Professor Jeff Benedict is squeezing in national media interviews, major speaking events and a book tour to meet the demands of the interest in his new book, “Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage,” about a controversial Supreme Court decision.

“'Little Pink House' is an absorbing read, almost novelistic,” wrote Melanie Kirkpatrick, deputy editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page. “Mr. Benedict interviewed just about every player, and he reconstructs events and dialogue in readable detail. The result is more 'Dombey and Son' than legal brief.”

The book tells the story of Susette Kelo, a middle-aged nurse and her fight to save her little pink house from a prominent governor, an enormous pharmaceutical company and city officials bent on demolishing her neighborhood. Her struggle extended all the way to the Supreme Court in the controversial case Kelo vs. New London, Conn., redefining the boundaries of eminent domain.

“'Little Pink House' is a modern morality tale,” concluded Kirkpatrick. “It shows how the politically powerful can use eminent domain as an instrument against the weak.”

After the release of Little Pink House, Benedict participated in a discussion at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., and a forum at Columbia University. He also has been interviewed about his new book on The Glenn Beck Program and on the Sean Hannity Show.

Students at Southern Virginia are excited for the success of one of their professors. Many find having professors like Benedict a key factor in the unique academic experiences they have at the university. “Being able to take a class from someone as accomplished as Jeff Benedict is a unique opportunity,” said Logan Davis, a senior majoring in liberal arts. “Many schools will boast of the people they have on their faculty. But most students will not be able to take a class from them let alone have opportunities to engage in one-on-one dialogue and paper reviews.”

Benedict is an award-winning investigative journalist and best selling author of eight books, which have been the inspiration for features on 60 Minutes, ABC News 20/20, Dateline, HBO Real Sports and the Discovery Channel. He has been a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times and the Hartford Courant. He holds a J.D., an M.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in history and he practiced law in Connecticut. He is a distinguished professor of English at Southern Virginia University where he teaches courses in advanced writing and contemporary issues.