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August 17, 2018

SANDBAGGING, A PRACTICE THAT MUST STOP

My column for the August 28, 2018 issue of the New York Law Journal, “The New York State Legislature Should Revise the EDPL” contains many suggestions for revisions of the law.  One suggested change addresses the practice employed by condemning authorities commonly known as “sandbagging.” Eminent Domain Procedure Law § 304 addresses the concept of advance payment.  As the statute states, the condemnee may elect to accept such offer as an advance payment and such election shall in no way prejudice the right of a condemnee to claim additional compensation. … read more

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Posted in Advance Payments, Appraisal, Sandbagging
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April 4, 2016

What to Do When You’re a Homeowner Threatened with Eminent Domain

The U.S. News Real Estate Section published an article on March 30, 2016, titled, What to Do When You’re a Homeowner Threatened with Eminent Domain. The article lists some guidelines to protect yourself and your property. Number one is to consult an attorney “as soon as you hear your property could potentially be taken for public use, which could come to you in the form of a mailed letter, in-person notice or phone call, depending on the government planning to take the property and its practices. Eminent domain is difficult,… read more

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Posted in Advance Payments, Challenging condemnation, Eminent Domain, Lawyers
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January 4, 2016

2015 – Another Successful Year for Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C.

As Justice Thomas A. Dickerson stated, in Matter of Irvington v Sokolik, 13 Misc3d 1220 [Sup. Ct. West 2006], “a condemnation proceeding is not a private litigation.  There is a constitutional mandate upon the court to give just and fair compensation for property taken.  This means just to the claimant and just to the people who are required to pay for it.”  Yaphank Development Co., Inc. v County of Suffolk, 203 AD2d 280, 609 NYS2d 346 [2d Dept 1994]. Notwithstanding the requirement of just compensation, Condemnors have consistently made low… read more

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Posted in Advance Payments, Eminent Domain, Trade fixtures
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June 15, 2015

Court Awards $10,100,000 on Eminent Domain Claim of Property in Staten Island

The Honorable Wayne P. Saitta, Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Kings County, recently issued a decision dated June 10, 2015, awarding Yeshivas Ch’San Sofer, Inc., a Claimant in an eminent domain proceeding, $10,100,000.00 as just compensation for its property.  The decision was issued after a three day, non- jury trial was held on October 20-23, 2014 in Kings County Supreme Court. Prior to trial the City had paid an advance payment of only $611,000.00, later increasing its valuation with a supplemental payment totaling $919,000.00 The property at issue… read more

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Posted in Advance Payments, Appraisers, Highest and Best Use, New York, Offer & Compensation, Recent cases, Wetlands
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May 20, 2015

Blau Rock LLC v State of New York

The Hon. Thomas H. Scuccimarra authored an excellent decision recently in the New York Court of Claims: Blau Rock LLC v State of New York. At issue was the amount of interest due on the deposit of an advance payment owed to Claimant Blau Rock LLC (“Blau Rock” or “owner”) for the acquisition of a portion of its property in connection with the construction of the Palisades Trailway. The specific background of the case is as follows. Under Eminent Domain Procedure Law 304(A), when a Condemnor acquires property, it must make… read more

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Posted in Advance Payment Agreement, Advance Payments, Eminent Domain, Litigation, New York, Recent cases
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