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Archive | Condemnation

May 9, 2019

LITIGATING THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE IN NEW YORK. A PARK IS A PARK UNLESS IT’S NOT.

          New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, decided Matter of Glick v Harvey.[1]  The appeals court affirmed the reversal of a lower court order which enjoined New York University from beginning any construction in connection with its expansion project that would result in any alienation of three parcels of land found by the Court to be public parkland, unless and until the State Legislature authorizes the alienation of any parkland to be impacted by the project.  The decision itself provides very little factual information.  According to an article… read more

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Posted in Condemnation, parklands, Public Trust Doctrine, Uncategorized
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December 19, 2018

IT’S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THE BIAS IN FAVOR OF CONDEMNORS

We recently read a decision from the Court of Claims where the following statement is found “… all considered with the understanding that the burden of proof is establishing an entitlement to substantial compensation rests with claimant (see Andrews v State of New York, 137 AD2d 952, 953 (3d Dept).” Cardinal Development Properties, Ltd. v The State of New York, Claim No. 120333, Decision Filed December 18, 2018, J. Hudson. Why would a Court of Claims Judge believe that this is true in a de jure appropriation? In other words,… read more

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Posted in Burden of Proof, Condemnation, Inverse Condemnation
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December 10, 2018

THINKING ABOUT CHALLENGING A CONDEMNATION IN NEW YORK? – GOOD LUCK!

Authorizing and Challenging the Condemnation Article 2 of New York’s Eminent Domain Procedure Law sets forth the prescribed way that property is to be acquired by eminent domain.  EDPL Section 201 provides that there must be public hearings for both state and non-state takings at a location reasonably proximate to the property. It is essential that notice be given by publication and by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested, to each assessment record billing owner or his or her attorney of record, as required by Section 202. The… read more

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Posted in Condemnation
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December 14, 2017

Is the acquisition of private property for affordable housing a public use?

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to acquire privately owned residential buildings and convert them into affordable housing in an effort to reduce the City’s homeless problem. The City is currently paying property owners to house homeless people in apartments in the buildings that the City wants to acquire. The City’s plan is to acquire the buildings and transfer them to nonprofit companies that will convert all of the apartments in the buildings into affordable units. The homeless people will stay in the affordable units. If the… read more

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Posted in Condemnation, Eminent Domain, Public Purpose
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October 19, 2017

ANOTHER POORLY CONSIDERED CONDEMNATION

On October 2, 2017, the Honorable Bruce E. Tolbert, sitting as a Rockland County Supreme Court Justice, entered a decision and order awarding our clients, The Ray River Co., Inc. and Haverstraw Riverfront, Inc., $8,950,000 plus interest from March 27, 2008.  That is a 56% increment.  Jonathan M. Houghton tried the claim, assisted by Ashley Levi. The Condemnor, Village of Haverstraw, made an advance payment of $1,190,000.  At trial, it introduced an appraisal valuing the 9.7 acres of vacant land on the Hudson River at $2.1 million. The property never… read more

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Posted in Condemnation, Wrongful Condemnation
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