Lewis Rice Wins $6.4 Million in Compensation for North Carolina Landowners
September 12, 2023Last week, Judge Loren Smith of the United States Court of Federal Claims ordered the United States to pay eight Greensboro, North Carolina landowners $6.4 million in just compensation for the taking of their property. The landowners’ property was taken in October 2019 when the federal government issued an order authorizing the abandoned railroad corridor on their property to be converted into a public linear park. In March 2022, Judge Smith conducted a trial to determine the just compensation these owners are due for the taking of their property. In addition to the award of just compensation, the Court ordered the federal government to pay these landowners interest from the date of taking until final payment at the Moody’s Aaa rate, compounded annually. And, pursuant to the Uniform Relocation Act, the federal government must reimburse these landowners their attorney fees and expenses.
To read the Court of Federal Claims' decision, click under "Resources" below.
Lewis Rice's federal takings attorneys represent landowners throughout the United States pursuing takings claims against the federal government. One primary focus of the group is representing landowners in what is commonly referred to as rails to trails takings. Attorneys in this group litigate cases in the United States Court of Federal Claims on behalf of those whose property was taken by the federal government pursuant to the National Trails System Act, which authorizes abandoned railroad lines to be converted to public parks. The goal is to obtain compensation from the government for the taking of their land for the public recreational trail.
