Ruling in an important takings case, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned a long-standing precedent and said plaintiffs can go directly to federal court to vindicate their Fifth Amendment right to “just compensation” when the government takes their property.

The 5-4 decision in Knick v. Township of Scott represents the second time the court this term has overturned a significant precedent, and Justice Elena Kagan, who authored a dissent in the case, said the majority’s decision “transgresses all usual principles of stare decisis,” the principle of standing by precedents.