Overview

We represent both landowners and governmental taking authorities in the full range of eminent domain proceedings involving the taking of virtually any interest in any type of real property.

Areas of Expertise Include

• Total fee taking of commercial industrial property for redevelopment purposes
• Total fee taking of residential property for redevelopment purposes
• Partial fee taking of commercial industrial, residential, or agricultural property for road widening or redevelopment purposes
• Easement taking along the edge or across commercial industrial, residential, or agricultural properties for power lines, pipelines, sewers, trails, and other uses
• Taking of property already dedicated to public use for another public use -- for instance the taking of an easement along a railroad right-of-way for power line use

We work closely with our clients and their appraisers to determine the highest and best use of the property in question and then determine the reasonable value of the property taken. We also work with property and fixture appraisers throughout the state and with condemnation commissioners in virtually all of Minnesota's 87 counties. When appropriate, we have worked with urban planners to establish the highest and best use for property.

Representative Cases

Our lawyers have been involved in the following condemnation matters:

• Alliance Pipeline
• Widening of I-394
• City of New Brighton business development district
• City of Golden Valley development district
• Highway 62 widening
• Metropolitan Council interceptor sewer project
• Mall of America condemnation cases
• Metropolitan Airport expansion
• Lawson development in St. Paul

Bios

Primary Attorneys

Condemning Authority

James E. Dorsey
John E. Drawz
David D. Meyer, Of Counsel
Steven J. Quam
Mollie M. Smith

Landowner or Condemning Authority

John E. Drawz
David D. Meyer, Of Counsel
Steven J. Quam

Landowner

David D. Meyer, Of Counsel
Steven J. Quam