In The News

By Christine Laubenstein
Staff Reporter
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Biersdorf and Associates attorney, E. Kelly Keady, will be presenting at the Road and Access Law Seminar coordinated by the National Business Institute on June 13th, 2007.  E. Kelly Keady will draw from 10 years experience in eminent domain law to discuss current case law and provide legislative updates.

The City of Jamaica will be facilitating a public meeting for property owners affected by the Jamaica Redevelopment Project on May 23rd, 2007 at 10:00am at the Queens Library located at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard.  Property owners may express their views concerning the proposed Plan and the proposed acquisitions at this meeting.  Attorney Dan Biersdorf will be attending this meeting to speak about eminent domain and answer any questions property owners have.

Dan Biersdorf, of eminent domain firm Biersdorf & Associates, will be speaking at the meeting from a property owner's perspective. Biersdorf will address frequently asked questions, give an overview of the eminent domain process, and then open the floor to any questions that attendees may have.

They say it doesn't pay to fight "city hall." But Bernice Spiegelberg went three rounds with Wisconsin's Department of Transportation over a land-take dispute and wound up undefeated.

Last month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with the 89-year-old town of Winchester farmer owner, who filed a civil suit in 2003 arguing the DOT offered too little for about 11 acres of her 150-acre farm, land in the way of the planned expansion of U.S. Highway 10.

Every year, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) acquires over 2,000 acres of land through negotiations and condemnation.  The WisDOT recently drafted a new proposal that fosters eminent domain abuse by limiting the right of property owners to receive just compensation for their property when undergoing eminent domain.

Currently, attorney’s fees and costs are paid for in full by the government if the final award of compensation is 15% higher than the Government’s offer. If passed, this new legislation will limit the amount of attorney’s fees recoverable to 1/3 of the difference between the Government’s offer and the final award.  Additionally, it will eliminate the right of landowners to pursue additional compensation once they sign off on the deed.

A public meeting will be held for property owners affected by the Clarke County Water Supply Project at the Lions Club Room located at 100 S. Railroad Street in Truro on Tuesday, April 7th at 7 p.m.

The Clarke County Water Supply Project includes the development of a lake near Osceola in Southern Iowa that will serve as a regional water supply, provide water-based recreation, a new fish and wildlife habitat, and help control agricultural pollution.