Those of us in the real estate practice—and particularly in areas concerning real estate valuation such as eminent domain and property tax appeals—are obviously quite concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our clients’ property values as we all proceed through these very uncertain times. I think about two upcoming quick-take hearings that

One of the most challenging aspects of an attorney’s job is to advise a client regarding possible litigation.  I think of myself as a pragmatic business lawyer whose primary job is to help my clients achieve their business objectives.  I much prefer to accomplish this through time spent on advocacy, negotiation and problem solving.  Litigation

Property owners forced to move their business locations through condemnation for the Metropolitan Council’s Southwest Light Rail Transit project are generally entitled to compensation on two fronts—first, they are entitled to just compensation for the taking of their real property; second, they are entitled to relocation benefits for the costs and expenses of moving their

In case you missed it, WCCO ran a story the other night about a small business owner who has been displaced through condemnation of her property by the massive, two-billion dollar Southwest Light Rail project. The business owner said she was promised by the project’s sponsor, the Metropolitan Council, that she would be “made whole.” 

Inverse condemnation is a potentially powerful kind of litigation ju jitsu move that property owners can use in certain situations to call the government to account when it damages their property by an official act or omission. Most everyone has some familiarity with eminent domain, also known as condemnation or a governmental taking. Where private