Hardesty

After a lengthy jury trial, the Hardesty and Schneider plaintiffs obtained a verdict *1020 exceeding $100 million against defendant Sacramento County and three defendant county officials based on defendants' actions the jury determined caused the closure of the Hardestys' sand and gravel mine and violated plaintiffs' constitutional rights under the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. Defendants' Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law ("Renewed JMOL Mot."), ECF No. 537, and Motion for a New Trial ("New Trial Mot."), ECF No. 538, are before the court. Plaintiffs oppose the motions, ECF Nos. 547-48, and defendants have replied, ECF Nos. 550-51. The court heard oral argument on the motions on October 31, 2017, and then submitted the matters. See ECF No. 554. After careful consideration, for the reasons below, the court DENIES both motions.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

Between 2008 and 2012, California and Sacramento County regulators investigated reports that the Hardesty family was operating a sand and gravel mine illegally on the Schneider family's ranch. As a result of the investigations, regulators ordered the Hardesty and Schneider families to cease the…