Yearly Archives: 2008

August 6th, 2008 — In News & Events

Desperate Landowners in Pennsylvania

CLEARVILLE, PA — The Altoona Mirror, posted an article August 1 detailing a plight of local landowners against a gas storage company from Texas, Spectra Energy. In a written plea, the landowners appealed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ask Spectra to hold off on taking their properties by eminent domain. The letter also requested FERC to provide the owners with any information that might be helpful to them in negotiating with Spectra. Spectra has already begun work on its proposed natural gas storage and pipeline project after receiving FERC approval last month.

Read More

August 4th, 2008 — In News & Events

New Support for Property Owner in Music Row Eminent Domain Case

Since 2000, Nashville’s Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency has unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate the purchase of property owned by Joy Ford at 23 Music Circle East, Nashville. Because Ford has refused to sell to MDHA, the Authority has indicated that it will use eminent domain to seize her property. However, Ford has gained a new ally in the National Federation of Independent Businesses. NFIB announced last week that it will defend Ford “every step of the way” against MDHA.

Read More

July 31st, 2008 — In News & Events

Tulsa, OK might use eminent domain for new Drillers ballpark

Tulsa World staff writer P.J. Lassek writes today about Mayor Kathy Taylor’s proposed $60 million baseball stadium and mixed use project for the historic Greenwood District. Although the city, as the Tulsa Development Authority, already owns the land where the stadium would be built, it does not own the surrounding real estate, which would be desirable if a larger mixed-use facility was designed for the site. Mr. Lassek writes in his article that backers of Mayor Taylor’s project have indicated that it is “vital to have the larger footprint to create a successful project and spur further economic development.”

Read More

July 29th, 2008 — In News & Events

Jaxport Opts Out of Eminent Domain Taking After Jury Verdict of $67 Million

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Jul 29, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — After almost two years in litigation, the Board of the Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) has decided to abandon the eminent domain taking of Keystone Coal Company’s 70-acre property on the St. Johns River.

Read More

July 29th, 2008 — In News & Events

Property Owner Awarded $2.8M in St. Louis

A St. Louis jury recently awarded property owner Bill Simon of Alton, Illinois, $2,871,200 for the 2 acres of land he owned just north of the Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis. Simon purchased the property in 1999 for $523,000 as an investment. Attorney Paul Henry explained “He bought it because the area had potential.”

Read More

July 28th, 2008 — In News & Events

OCA’s Mission

With this our first blog post, we would like to explain our goals as an organization and what we intend to discuss in this blog. Owners’ Counsel of America (OCA) is an organization which has sought to bring together the most experienced eminent domain attorneys in the country as a resource to each other in the defense of private property ownership. OCA members stand at the forefront of property rights issues, defending our constitutional guarantee to own and enjoy real property.

Read More

July 1st, 2008 — In Articles

“The Perils of Prior Appraisal” by Michael Rikon (New York)

In this 2008 article, Mr. Rikon supports New York’s two-step appraisal law for inverse condemnation but cautions against requesting draft appraisals since they are admissible at trial and may create problems by undermining the credibility of the appraiser.

Read More

close