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Condemnation/Eminent Domain

  • OVERVIEW
  • PROFESSIONALS
Thompson Coburn has prosecuted, defended and advised clients on condemnation/eminent domain cases and matters for more than 30 years. Acquiring property through eminent domain remains essential to the achievement of important public projects, including light rail, highway, telecommunications and sewer construction, as well as commercial and residential development and redevelopment. Because property must be taken for these projects, however, the power of eminent domain also greatly affects the legal rights and investments of property owners.

With public projects at stake and property interests on the line, our attorneys have represented clients in all facets of condemnation/eminent domain cases and matters, from negotiating the value and scope of takings to ultimately trying cases in court before juries. Our firm possesses the experience to represent condemnors, developers and property owners in condemnation/eminent domain proceedings, including projects involving urban redevelopment areas and tax increment financing (TIF). With our skillful guidance, government agencies and developers have accomplished their complex projects and private landowners have maximized their ownership rights.

Mary M. Bonacorsi

314.552.6014
email

Bernard I. Citron

312.580.2209
email

Partners
Bonacorsi, Mary M.
Citron, Bernard I.
Meanes, Pamela J.
Plotnick, Gary L.
Ross, Michael E.
Rownd, David M.
  • Thompson Coburn has successfully represented regional agencies in major public works and transportation projects, including the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and the Bi-State Development Agency (d/b/a Metro). The firm has worked on legal issues including eminent domain proceedings, real estate purchase and sale agreements, easement and license acquisition and negotiation, bond financing, construction and construction management agreements, environmental issues and remediation, and mechanics’ lien claims and construction disputes. These projects have included fee simple takings to expand and improve water treatment plants, a variety of property takings for the $340 million St. Clair County MetroLink and $676 million Cross-County MetroLink projects, and the acquisition of a broad range of permanent and temporary easements for sewer separation projects.
  • We represent owners and managers of multifamily apartment communities in eminent domain proceedings concerning highway and other roadway construction projects. The firm has handled dozens of cases for property owners before commissioners, juries and special masters for total and partial takings, including awards of $4 million, $3.6 million and $1 million for partial takings in St. Louis County for highway and road improvement projects.
  • Our firm has represented developers and municipalities in a variety of TIF and Chapter 353 urban redevelopment projects, which have included property acquisitions for the Brentwood Promenade, a highly successful TIF project in St. Louis County.
  • Our firm is experienced in all types of issues involved in shared rights-of-way with utilities, as well as the sophisticated right-of-way valuation process for railroads/utilities to include the assemblage of rights-of-way by purchase or condemnation.
  • The firm has represented a nationwide fast food franchisor in over 500 transactions, including acquisition, disposition, condemnation and property management.