Eminent Domain
Representative Cases
These examples are for illustrative purposes only. Every case or legal issue depends
on its own facts, law and the unique credibility of the witnesses involved. Results
similar to the following are not and cannot be guaranteed.
Get good legal advice and help now in order to protect your interests. Contact us
The judge criticized the condemning agency’s conduct where the government
waited several years before initiating eminent domain proceedings to take our client’s
home, waited for the real estate market to go down, offered the owner less than
the debt against his property, and filed a motion seeking a court order allowing
it to take immediate possession. The firm opposed the motion on behalf of the owner,
arguing that the government’s conduct created an unjust hardship. The court agreed,
finding the government’s conduct to be “close to outrageous.” The following
is an excerpt from the official transcript:
We negotiated a settlement for $407,000 more than the government initial offer
in a case where the government sought to condemn a client’s commercial
property where they operated a long time family real estate business which was well
known in a largely Hispanic community. Although the business had significant value
the Government failed to offer anything to the clients for the loss of their business
goodwill. We aggressively argued that the business lost significant business goodwill
when they were forced to relocate and start over in a new location.
$38.5 million dollar acquisition for school district
Lawyers with the firm negotiated the $38.5 million purchase, in lieu of eminent
domain, of a park as the site for a new school, helping the school district reach
agreement with city and county representatives.
Shopping Center acquisition for school district
Attorneys with the firm represented a local school district in successful negotiations
and eminent domain litigation to acquire a dilapidated, blighted shopping center
as the site for two new schools. The shopping center was located on six separate
legal parcels with six different owners, occupied by 38 different tenant businesses.
As part of this process, one of the firm’s partners (Joe Dzida) successfully established
for the first time that school district’s had the right to obtain advance funding
from the State Allocation Board for payment of goodwill loss to the tenant businesses
relocated for the project. Furthermore, impressed by Mr. Dzida’s as an opponent,
one of the six landowners later became a client of the firm.
Offer: $1,025,000 Compensation obtained: $3,205,000
When the government prevented our client from selling his property by announcing
that it would be acquired for an airport, the government refused to pay more than
$1,025,000. After winning at trial on the issue of if the government’s conduct and
delay were unreasonable, we obtained a $3,205,000 settlement payment for our client.
We negotiated a settlement for $1,038,865 more than the city’s initial
offer for a dentist’s commercial office property and business.
We negotiated a settlement for $714,000 more than the government offered
in the case where the government took land where a family business has operated
for decades.
At trial, we obtained a jury verdict of $600,000 more than the low ball
offer in the case where the government made an offer for apartments owned by our
client using sales that were artificially low and located in an airport flightpath
next to a freeway.
Offer: $530,000 Compensation obtained: $825,000
Representing a local diocese, we obtained a settlement of $825,000 after the government
only offered $530,000 for easement on church’s land.
Interstate pipeline acquisition
Lawyers with the firm represented an interstate gas pipeline company in the acquisition
of easements and franchises to maintain the pipeline under city streets along its
route. The pipeline ran from the “Four Corners” area to Long Beach.
Acquisition by university
Lawyers with the firm represented a local university in the purchase of adjacent
land, in lieu of eminent domain, for parking and other facilities, using California
laws granting private universities the power of eminent domain in certain situations.


Finally, I wish to thank you for the exceptional service you have rendered our company. I was very impressed with the fine work that you have done and am very appreciative. I am very glad to get to know you and look forward to resolution on this case…..
Finally, I wish to thank you for the exceptional service you have rendered our company. I was very impressed with the fine work that you have done and am very appreciative. I am very glad to get to know you and look forward to resolution on this case…..
Finally, I wish to thank you for the exceptional service you have rendered our company. I was very impressed with the fine work that you have done and am very appreciative. I am very glad to get to know you and look forward to resolution on this case…..