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August 30, 2022

When an Easement Is Really a Direct Taking

The right of an owner to just compensation for property taken by eminent domain is one guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions.  (Federal Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment; NY Constitution, Art. 1, Subd. 7).  The constitutional requirement of “just compensation” mandates that the property owner be indemnified so that he may be put in the same relative position, insofar as this is possible, as if the taking had not occurred.  City of Buffalo v J.W. Clement Co., Inc., 28 NY2d 241 258 (1971); Rose v State of New York, 24 NY2d… read more

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Posted in Condemnation, Direct Taking, Easements, Eminent Domain
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November 20, 2020

Never Be Bound by What the Condemnor Declares in a Taking

We witness more and more State appropriations where the NYDOT declares on its appropriation map that the taking is “Temporary.”  Yet, after the filing of the map and ergo the appropriation, the State alters the land in such a way that it is severely damaged.  The new roadway may limit access onto the remainder; it may reduce parking, or otherwise permanently physically alter the property. The scope of an easement is generally determined by the four corners of the taking documents themselves.  LIRR v LILCO, 64 NY2d 1088, 1089 (1985). … read more

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Posted in Condemnation, Easements, Loss of Access, Partial Takings
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June 16, 2020

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The United States Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline can traverse sixteen (16) miles of land within the George Washington National Forest.  The case, United States Forest Service v Cowpasture River Prevention Assoc., 590 U.S. ___ (2020), considered the grant of a special permit from the Forest Service for a right of way some 600 feet below a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.  The Respondents filed a petition for review alleging that the special permit for the right of way violated the Mineral… read more

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Posted in Appalachian Trial, Easements, Right-of-Way
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June 10, 2020

No Soup for You – Colorado Supreme Court Refuses Compensation for Taking of Restrictive Covenant

The Town of Monument condemned a privately owned lot in a residential subdivision for the purpose of locating a water storage tank.  The lot was subject to a restrictive covenant requiring that it remain residential in use and that only a single-family home could be built on it.  Restrictive covenants are not unusual and are common in the development of planned unit communities.  Restrictive covenants have significant and substantial impact on the use and value of property. In response to the Town’s condemnation proceeding, dozens of property owners in the… read more

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Posted in Compensation, Easements, Just Compensation, Restrictive Covenants
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August 6, 2019

SHAME ON YOU SUFFOLK COUNTY: THE ATTEMPT TO STEAL JUST COMPENSATION

          I recently tried a claim which involved the taking of an easement on a beach front property.  The taking was to build a protective dune on Fire Island.           The dune was part of a federally funded program developed after Hurricane Sandy.  The County claimed that the dune was a special benefit to the property.  Let’s define the terms:           Nichols on Eminent Domain, Third Ed., Sec. 8A.04(2) provides, “General benefits are those benefits which result from the fulfilment of the public project which necessitated the taking and are… read more

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Posted in Easements, Partial Takings, Special Benefit, Uncategorized
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