Navigation

Archive | Condemnation

May 27, 2021

No – You Do Not Get Immediate Possession

Some condemnation counsel believe that once their client obtains title that the condemnor can move on and possess the subject property.  Not so.  Vesting title is prescribed by Section 402 of the Eminent Domain Procedure Law. Most condemnations will be controlled by Subdivision B and take place in the Supreme Court.  The law sets strict requirements as to the necessary documents to be filed with a petition to condemn along with absolute time requirements for service. After fully complying with all statutory requirements, a Supreme Court Justice will sign an… read more

By
Posted in Condemnation, Possession, Title vesting
Read more > 0

May 11, 2021

When A Park Just Isn’t A Park

We represent Brinkmann Hardware Corp. which owns a wooded lot in Mattituck, Suffolk County.  The family-owned business operates four hardware stores across Long Island.  The Town of Southold has used every trick to prevent the construction of the Mattituck hardware store, including imposing a nonsense moratorium. Southold lost every round in Court, so what does it do when it cannot stop construction, authorize condemning the land. The Institute for Justice filed suit in Federal District Court to stop the condemnation alleging a violation of due process and the Fifth Amendment. … read more

By
Posted in Condemnation, Park, Public Purpose, Public Use, Uncategorized
Read more > 0

May 6, 2021

The Condemnor’s Burden to Demonstrate “But For” To Apply The Project Influence Rule

The Third Department got it right in Matter of State of New York v KKS Properties, LLC, 119 AD3d 1033, (July 3, 2014).  KKS Properties, LLC is one of those 1033decisions that make you cringe.  An award on an appropriation claim in the Court of Claims which is lower than the advance payment resulting in a judgment in favor of the State is an outrageous outcome for a compulsory taking of one’s property.  We have often advocated that there must be a minimum of “just compensation.”  A condemnor is required… read more

By
Posted in Condemnation, Project Influence Rule, Severance Damages
Read more > 0

April 13, 2021

Special Benefits – Special Nonsense

In a very comprehensive decision, the Honorable John J. Leo discussed, among many legal issues, special benefits.  The decision, Freudenberger v County of Suffolk, Index No. 606055/16 (Suff. Co. April 5, 2021), the Court awarded $172,302 in a taking by the County on Fire Island for the reconstruction of Fire Island’s barrier beach and dune network.  The intent of the project was to protect the sand dunes by taking easements to construct flood hazard risk reduction measures.  The County’s total appraised damages for the 2,558 square feet of property was… read more

By
Posted in Condemnation, Fire Island, General Benefits, Special Benefits
Read more > 0

April 1, 2021

An 800-Megawatt Surprise – Destroying a Community

One of the nice things about writing a blog is that your readers send you ideas for your next article.  This one is a doozey. There is an 800-megawatt hydroelectric project for New York which is proposed by Premium Energy Holdings of California.  The proposal calls for the Ashokan Reservoir water and its existing dam to be used as a lower reservoir in a pumped storage power plant facility. The project’s preliminary permit application is before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The reservoir proposal has been called “devastating.”  Local officials,… read more

By
Posted in Condemnation, FERC, Hydroelectric Power Plant, Reservoir
Read more > 0