» Litigation

Represented property owners in an eminent domain action brought by CalTrans to condemn land in Auburn, California, for widening Interstate 80. Clients sought pre-condemnation damages and compensation based on a claim of highest and best use beyond that initially asserted by CalTrans. The case was settled after CalTrans conceded to the client’s position on highest and best use of the property and to a total, rather than a partial taking. Read More

In a taking by CalTrans for a freeway project in Sacramento involving a brick and ceramic products manufacturing facility, represented landowner in case that involved very complex valuation issues and was settled on a favorable basis after lengthy negotiations with CalTrans. Read More

Represented Southern Pacific Company in the condemnation of expansion lands needed for its Roseville receiving yard, and involved the taking of approximately 50 acres of land then in the process of residential subdivision. The case was tried before a jury, to an end result which was acceptable to Southern Pacific. Read More

Represented landowner in a 1500-acre taking that was tried to a jury verdict in federal court. The final result was approximately 3x the condemning agency’s appraisal. Read More

Defended landowner in a condemnation action in which CalTrans sought a strip of railroad right of way land approximately 20 feet wide and 6,000 feet long for the construction of an interstate freeway. The case involved several novel valuation issues and became a leading authority for the valuation of “transportation easements” and the types of evidence that may be introduced at trial. The jury verdict was a multiple of CalTrans offer and was sustained on appeal. Read More

Representation of owner of 282 acres of land located at the waterfront above the Union Valley Reservoir in a case tried in federal court. Our success at trial is attributed in large part to key rulings that (a) the condemnee was entitled to value of the upland enhanced by the somewhat earlier taking of the reservoir which was, therefore, a “separate project” and (b) that condemnee had the option to value the taking either as a separate parcel or as part of the larger remainder. Read More

Represented landowner in condemnation action brought by the State to acquire an abandoned right-of-way and adjacent land near the town of Locke for the Delta Meadows State Park. One of the main issues was the nature of the owner’s title to the land, which involved a determination regarding the land as of the date California was admitted to the Union. Defeated State’s contention that all of the land in question was tideland, rather than upland, which resulted in client obtaining right to full market value for such land. Read More

Successful defense of complex Will Contest brought in Butte County by the estranged wife of the decedent after seven month jury trial. Read More