Planning and constructing public infrastructure projects takes significant time – sometimes many years. Property owners and businesses who may be impacted are left in a state of limbo, not knowing for sure whether the project...more
Acquiring property for public projects typically does not occur until after the project has received environmental approval. In California, complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) can sometimes take...more
Today, April 12, 2024, in Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overruled more than two decades of California precedent, holding that legislatively established development impact fee programs must...more
Most private development projects in California trigger some sort of discretionary public approval, whether it be environmental review, zone changes, permits, or other forms of entitlement approvals. As part of that approval...more
Planning and constructing large public works projects can take years. When those projects will impact private property, owners are left in a difficult situation, as the cloud of condemnation hangs over their property, making...more
4/18/2023
/ California ,
Construction Project ,
Damages ,
Eminent Domain ,
Infrastructure ,
Inverse Condemnation ,
Liability ,
Precondemnation ,
Private Property ,
Public Projects ,
Public Works ,
Transportation Corridor
When a public agency is acquiring private property for a public project, typically the key issue in dispute is how much the agency should pay -- what is “just compensation”? ...more
COVID-19 has undoubtedly upended the world, including the way we do business and the future of our economy. While our focus should continue to be on the health and safety of our families, friends, and communities, many in the...more
Like the vast majority of general civil litigation, eminent domain matters usually settle before going to trial. The resolution is typically documented in either a stipulated judgment or a settlement agreement. ...more
5/23/2019
/ Appeals ,
Caltrans ,
Construction Project ,
Easements ,
Eminent Domain ,
Highways ,
Inverse Condemnation ,
Just Compensation ,
Property Owners ,
Property Valuation ,
Public Projects ,
Real Estate Market ,
State and Local Government ,
Transportation Industry
More than 50 years ago, Caltrans purchased roughly 500 homes under threat of eminent domain within the planned right-of-way for the anticipated construction of the I-710 freeway (linking Monterey Park to Pasadena). ...more
For years, we’ve been working with our public agency clients during the environmental and design-phase to minimize right-of-way impacts with new infrastructure projects. Yet for many agencies, property acquisitions are an...more