Archive | August, 2013

NYLJ Article, “The Court’s Duty in a Condemnation Case”

Partners Michael Rikon & Jonathan Houghton recently authored an article in the New York Law Journal titled “The Court’s Duty in a Condemnation Case.” The article discusses a recent decision by the Appellate Division, Second Department, affirming an order of the Kings County Supreme Court Justice Wayne Saitta which granted a motion for leave to exchange amended appraisal reports and vacate the Note of Issue filed by the condemnor. The motion followed the review of both sides’ appraisals prior to trial. The trial court reviewed the appraisals that the parties intended to… read more

Posted in Condemnation Procedures, Eminent Domain, Highest and Best Use, New York, Published Articles, Recent cases, Trial Preparation
Read more > 1

Trial Court Denies Condemnor’s Motion to Dismiss Part of a Trade Fixture Claim

Justice Wayne Saitta, Kings County Supreme Court, just wrote a terrific decision denying a condemnor’s motion to dismiss part of a trade fixture claim. The decision, Pack It Away Storage Systems, Inc. v New York State Urban Development Corporation, d/b/a Empire State Development Corporation, Sup Ct., Kings County, August 9, 2013, Saitta, J. Index No. 1686/12, can be found on the following hyperlink:Pack it Away Storage Systems. The decision contains important black-letter law. One example is “[w]here the land and fixtures are owned by different entities, and the owner of the fixtures has retained… read more

Posted in Eminent Domain, New York, Offer & Compensation, Trade fixtures
Read more > 0

The court has the constitutional mandate to determine just compensation

The Appellate Division, Second Department in Matter of Staten Is. Bluebelt Phase 2 v City of New York, 2013 NY Slip Op 5532, recently affirmed a trial court order (Saitta, J), which granted a motion to exchange amended appraisal reports because the appraisal reports that were filed “appeared to be deficient.” The appellate court cited Yaphank Dev. Co. v County of Suffolk, 203 AD2d 280, 282 and explained that the court has a constitutional mandate to give just and fair compensation for any property taken. It explained that the order… read more

Posted in Eminent Domain, Offer & Compensation, Recent cases
Read more > 0

Just Compensation? Not if We Can Help It

A business may be firmly rooted in a neighborhood. It might be quite successful and profitable. It could be a family enterprise which has had multi-generational owners and workers. Then comes that fateful day when the property is included in a condemnation proceeding; a forced sale which was hardly solicited. Years of goodwill go out the window, for goodwill is not compensable in New York, or most other states. Then comes the inevitable eviction to obtain vacant possession of the premises. Most established businesses will find it a challenge to… read more

Posted in Condemnation Procedures, Leases, New York, Offer & Compensation, Trade fixtures
Read more > 0

Mortgages- We Don’t Care About No Stinking Contracts

I once wrote that there is a legal aphorism in criminal law that a good prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich. If this is so, in an eminent domain proceeding, an average condemnor could condemn a kasha knish. The public purpose which is supposed to be a required element by our Fifth Amendment really doesn’t apply. See Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S.469 (2005). So it is hardly surprising that some governmental ninnies would think that in order to help its underwriter homeowner citizens, it would condemn their… read more

Posted in Eminent Domain, Eminent Domain Abuse, Future of the law, Legislation, Mortgage seizures
Read more > 0