BLOG: Condemnation Law

Eminent Domain in a Nutshell – More Takings on the Horizon?

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
5 Dec 2016
Eminent domain has frequently been in the news over the past few months, part in thanks to president-elect Donald Trump’s support for and involvement in the practice, and also the controversial Dakota oil pipeline. Amidst all of the media attention, here is a review of the basic tenets of eminent domain.  Eminent domain refers to... Read More

NJ Transit v. Franco – Property Owner Verdict Overturned on Appeal

by: Joseph Grather
1 Nov 2016
On October 19, 2016, almost seven years after a condemnation action was commenced, the Appellate Division published an opinion reversing an $8,150,000 jury verdict in favor of the property owners from 2013.  The pre-condemnation offer of compensation was $934,500.  The trial judge also ordered that $1,967,865 be escrowed in the Superior Court Trust Fund to cover... Read More

How is “Just Compensation” Determined in Eminent Domain Matters?

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
30 Aug 2016
In an eminent domain case, when a governmental agency or other condemning authority takes private property, the property owner is constitutionally entitled to received “just compensation” for the taking. This refers to the amount of money that will make the owner whole and indemnify him, her or it for the loss of the property.  Frequently,... Read More

CRDA Denied Authority to Take – Birnbaum Wins on Reconsideration

by: Joseph Grather
10 Aug 2016
On August 5, 2016, Judge Mendez reversed himself issuing an Order holding that the Casino Reinvestment Development Corp.’s condemnation of the Birnbaum property was a “manifest abuse of the eminent domain power” and exceeded CRDA’s statutory authority.  Thereby dismissing the case commenced over two years ago. Initially the Court denied the Birnbaum’s challenge to the... Read More

New Jersey’s Stance on Eminent Domain Since Kelo v. New London

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
20 Jul 2016
The United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Kelo v. City of New London in 2005 served as a wake-up call for eminent domain usage and abuse, as the Court affirmed that, depending upon any state or local laws to the contrary, it was and is permissible for government agencies to seize private property as a... Read More

Sales Approach Rejected in Valuing Rental Property

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
11 Jul 2016
In reviewing a recent decision by the Honorable Patrick DeAlmeida, the Presiding Judge of the New Jersey Tax Court, the first thing that jumps out is the large reductions — approximate $1.84 million in reduced assessments for each of the years under appeal.  The appeal involved a free-standing Barnes & Noble store in Evesham Township brought by the retailer, a... Read More

Morristown Booming with Redevelopment

by: Joseph Grather
25 May 2016
This is kind of an off topic post … but generally fits within the purview of redevelopment. Having grown-up in Colonial Morristown with its historic Green; and National Historic Parks (Washington’s Headquarters and Jockey Hollow), and having returned for the practice of law, I am amazed at the transformation that has occurred over the past... Read More

Court of Claims Awards Leaseholder Awards $170M After Inverse Condemnation Trial

by: Joseph Grather
9 May 2016
A quick hit –  The United States Court of Federal Claims recently awarded two leaseholders over $170M for the taking of their leasehold interests at Dallas Love Field Airport. A full copy of the long opinion is here.  The nascence of the claim goes all the way back to construction of the Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport... Read More

Adoption of Rehabilitation Plan in Woodbridge Not A Taking (D.N.J.)

by: Joseph Grather
4 Apr 2016
From the United States District Court comes a new opinion from Judge Chesler, but there’s nothing new in the precedent cited denying a property’s owner’s claim of “inverse condemnation.”  Simply stated, an inverse condemnation case is a procedure for a property owner to secure just compensation where government has taken private property for public use... Read More

NJ Sports Authority Threatening to Take Municipal Landfill

by: Joseph Grather
29 Mar 2016
  The NJ Sports and Exposition Authority, which runs the Meadowlands’ Sports Complex; New Jersey’s horsetracks; and now the former New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (itself the successor to the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission); recently advised the Town of Kearny that it intends to seize the Keegan Landfill by eminent domain.  It appears that NJSEA has... Read More