Archive | Litigation

Grand Central Terminal Air Rights Takings Litigation Settled

The Grand Central Terminal air rights takings litigation was settled yesterday.  We reviewed this litigation in our blog on June 8, 2016, available here: https://eminent-domain-blog.com/update-grand-central-terminal-air-rights-takings-litigation/ This settlement will allow for the construction of a 1,401-foot-tall building across 42nd Street on Vanderbilt Avenue in Manhattan. Interestingly, the settlement, according to a New York Times article, dated August 10, 2016, is likely because of a change in the ownership of the plaintiff corporation.  The new owners are MSD Capital, a firm controlled by Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Computers, and brothers… read more

Posted in Inverse Condemnation, Litigation, Zoning
Read more > 0

The Highline and the Romanoff Case

The Highline has been a very successful park.  It was opened to the public in 2009.  It begins at Gansevoort Street in the Meat Packing District and continues to West 34th Street between 10th and 12th Avenues in Manhattan.  It is, to say the least, wildly popular and crowded with tourists taking advantage of the dramatic views. Last week, Owners’ Counsel of America filed an Amici brief in Romanoff Equities, Inc. v United States, No. 15-5034 (Fed. Cir. March 10, 2016), a rails to trial taking case pending in the… read more

Posted in Eminent Domain, Litigation, New York, Public Parkland, Rails-to-Trails
Read more > 0

Emil Realty, Co. v State of New York

A recent decision by the Court of Claims (Hon. Thomas H. Scuccimarra) approved  the Claimant Emil Realty’s request for an additional three months to file its appraisal report valuing the subject property (530 Gardner Avenue, and a permanent easement over 518 Gardner Avenue). The parties had previously stipulated to other extensions, however the State refused to consent to a further extension beyond the February 15, 2015 deadline as it had already filed its appraisal, and argued it would be prejudiced by the imposition of additional statutory interest at 9% from… read more

Posted in Appraisers, Lawyers, Litigation, New York, Recent cases
Read more > 0

Blau Rock LLC v State of New York

The Hon. Thomas H. Scuccimarra authored an excellent decision recently in the New York Court of Claims: Blau Rock LLC v State of New York. At issue was the amount of interest due on the deposit of an advance payment owed to Claimant Blau Rock LLC (“Blau Rock” or “owner”) for the acquisition of a portion of its property in connection with the construction of the Palisades Trailway. The specific background of the case is as follows. Under Eminent Domain Procedure Law 304(A), when a Condemnor acquires property, it must make… read more

Posted in Advance Payment Agreement, Advance Payments, Eminent Domain, Litigation, New York, Recent cases
Read more > 0

“Rearranging the Deck Chairs When the Ship is Going Down: Protecting Your Condemnation Record for Appeal”

Michael Rikon recently co-authored an article published in the Practical Real Estate Lawyer with James D. Masterman. The article is titled “Rearranging the Deck Chairs When the Ship is Going Down: Protecting Your Condemnation Record for Appeal” and is available online by clicking here. The article offers practical insight, tips, and guidelines for how best to preserve the record for a possible appeal. Although many practitioners may feel confident during a trial that things are going their way, the authors point out that in almost every case there may be… read more

Posted in Litigation, Published Articles
Read more > 0