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Archive | Eminent Domain

September 29, 2022

Will The Texas Bullet Train Ever Be Built?

We have written about the Texas Bullet Train several times in this blog, February 28, 2017, May 21, 2020 and October 8, 2020. The project, after a decade since it was announced, is still in limbo.  This is despite a June 2022 ruling by the Texas Supreme Court allowing the company to use eminent domain to acquire its right of way. The company is in complete disarray.  The CEO resigned and the Texas Central Board disbanded.  Land acquisition has stopped for the last two years. The high-speed train that promises… read more

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Posted in Eminent Domain, Partial Takings, Severance Damages, Texas Bullet Train
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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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August 16, 2022

The Expert Witness in a Condemnation Trial

The fundamental rule is that the qualifications of a witness as an expert is a determination within the sound discretion of the trial court.  Smith v City of New York, 238 AD2d 500 (2d Dept 1997). An expert, once qualified, is allowed to testify as to the expert’s opinion.  Sec. 7-301, Prince on Evidence (11th Ed. P. 456).  In a condemnation case, the evidence before the court will be expert testimony by appraisers, zoning experts and other valuation experts. As one court has stated, “impartiality should be the touchstone of… read more

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Posted in Appraisers, Condemnation, Eminent Domain, Expert Witness, Independent Expert, Opinion Evidence, Qualifications
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August 2, 2022

May a Religious Organization’s Land be Condemned?

Yes, if the procedural and due process requirements of the Eminent Domain Procedure Law are complied, a church or synagogue’s land may be taken by eminent domain. Religious organizations often alleged that they are protected by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (42 USC § 2000cc et seq.).  However, the Act only applies to a zoning and landmarking law.  Case law provides that a government’s exercise of eminent domain does not constitute an application of a zoning law.  See St. John’s United Church of Christ v City of… read more

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Posted in Eminent Domain, Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act, Religious Organization
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April 28, 2022

Chaining Yourself to a Tree Just Won’t Work: Relocating Condemnees.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s announcement to construct two new toll roads as part of a $5 billion expansion of the turnpike system brought pledges of refusing to cooperate if the Authority is awarded the land.  Residents are considering chaining themselves to tress, bulldozers or simply refusing to leave. According to an article published in “The Noman Transcript,” Oklahoma: Before an eviction order, if a landowner does not cooperate with the court’s ruling, the OTA could seek an injunction to order the person from “interfering with their (OTA’s) property rights,” Gray… read more

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Posted in Eminent Domain, Eviction, Writ of Assistance
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