BLOG: Condemnation Law
Shipyard Associates Wins Big Against Hoboken
While not a condemnation case per se, the Supreme Court’s May 5th Opinion in Shipyards Assoc. v. Hoboken may be useful in a future valuation case. In short, the owner rec’d approvals in 1997 for residential development of its waterfront property in Hoboken. They build most of the project in conformity with its approvals, except... Read More
Priest Files Shutdown Challenge – Is Governor Thinking About the Bill of Rights Now?
Last week we wrote about the first known challenge to Governor Murphy’s Executive Order shutting down the State in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. The plaintiff there alleged the Order resulted in a taking of his beach house because it prohibits seasonal beach rentals and, as a result, he was required to... Read More
NJ Shutdown Challenge – I Can’t Rent My Beach House!
The first apparent challenge to New Jersey’s shutdown orders was filed this week by a Pennsyvlania doctor, who alleges that Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders have resulted in a taking of his Margate beach house – because the orders prohibit seasonal beach rentals and, as a result, he was required to refund a deposit on a... Read More
On Blueberry Hill – Property Owner Seeks Injunction from US Supreme Court
Not very sexy to sing ‘I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill Public Golf Course & Lounge’, but these are strange days indeed. The name of the case is actually “Friends of Danny DeVito v. Tom Wolf” but if I were the property owner’s lawyer I would have led with Blueberry Hill…. I digress. This... Read More
Property Rights Trampled by COVID-19
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida just denied a temporary injunction to a group of beachfront property owner’s suing to enjoin a governmental Order that temporarily and totally denied their use and enjoyment of private property. The Order denied access to the owners private beach. If you have 5 minutes,... Read More
Town Looks Gift Horse in Mouth – Gets Bitten
NJSEA v. Kearny A recent Appellate Division decision affirmed a trial judge’s award of just compensation concerning the taking by a State agency of a municipal landfill in Kearny. The award matched the amount of the condemning agency’s appraisal, and both the trial and appellate court’s rejected entirely the municipal property owner’s theory of value. ... Read More
NJ’s Newest Executive Order Forecasts Future Emergency Seizures and Commandeering
On April 2, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order #113, which follows his prior Orders in our current state of emergency, and authorizes the NJ Office of Emergency Management and Department of Health to utlize provisions of the NJ Civil Defense and Disaster Conrol Act “take or use personal services and/or real... Read More
Two Worlds Collide: States of Emergency and Individual Rights
Since our last post several days ago, Can the COVID-19 Panemic Allow the Government to Seize My Private Property?, so much has happened in our world that it would be impossible to try and analyze or even digest all of legal issues that the state of emergency has presented relating to property rights and individual... Read More
Can The COVID-19 Pandemic Allow the Government To Seize My Private Property?
As we endure the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic has already brought to our families, businesses and communities, the declaration of a national emergency last week by President Trump under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as well similar declarations in New Jersey and other states, signal that our government agencies... Read More
Owner’s Verdict Potpourri of Condemnation Valuation Principles
Last month, the a New Jersey appellate court affirmed a $3,000,000.00 verdict rendered by a Camden County jury for the taking of an eight story 80,000 s.f. building in Camden City Center. The full text of the opinion is here: Estate of Rubin v. Camden Parking Authority. The Parking Authority appealed arguing the owner’s valuation... Read More
