December 2017

Minnesota Landowners Quadruple Just Compensation in Eminent Domain Challenge

United States - Minnesota

A group of landowners whose property was claimed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) successfully challenged the state’s offer of just compensation for the taking, ultimately securing more than four times the originally proposed compensation.

The firm represented a group of landowners whose property was claimed for a new highway segment. MnDOT asserted that the property owners were owed only $715,000 in just compensation for the taking. The firm’s eminent domain team contended that their clients were entitled to $3.2 million, and argued the case before a panel of three commissioners, all real estate experts. The panel awarded our firm's clients $2.9 million, more than four times MnDOT’s initial offer.

The firm has represented landowners on five takings from this highway project, and this was the fourth consecutive win. The team won two trial victories in 2016, earned a favorable settlement on another property in early 2017, and eventually went on to win a fifth trial victory in 2018.