In a complex, novel eminent domain proceeding, which received first-page coverage in The New York Times, we represented the owner and a lessee of commercial property that a California agency condemned and took in order to transfer its ownership to a private developer. This case was brought after the US Supreme Court ruled in the Kelo case that such takings were permissible upon a proper showing. The condemnor’s original offer was approximately $1.6 million. After some litigation, the condemnor’s transferee agreed to pay $1.9 million in cash and also furnish real assets worth an estimated $1.2 million, so that in all it agreed to pay approximately $3.1 million for the taking. Case Name: Redevelopment Agency of the City of Santa Cruz v. Lau et al. (Sup. Ct. of Cal., Santa Cruz Cty. 2005, Case No. cv-151983).
