Impacting the property’s development plans
A church in Newport News had plans to expand the church and ensure that its mission continued. VDOT’s project changed the property’s access and resulted in the taking of small portion of the church’s property, putting expansion plans at risk. VDOT determined the church’s property was not damaged and offered just compensation of $96,000. Kaufman & Canoles prevailed in multiple hearings before the Court, and was able to obtain a favorable settlement for the church of $1.95 million, approximately $1.85 million above VDOT’s offer.
Impacting access
VDOT’s project and corresponding taking resulted in a new median in front of one of three entrances for the property, and easements along the front of the property. Access for the property was impacted, and the easements negatively impacted the property. VDOT offered $119,000 as just compensation. The landowner’s appraiser determined just compensation to be $2,391,883. VDOT refused to settle for a reasonable amount, and we took the case to trial before a jury in 2018. With Kaufman & Canoles’ help, the jury unanimously agreed with the landowner and awarded just compensation of $2,391.883. The landowner also received reimbursement for costs of approximately $100,000.
Other examples include:
Agricultural land – Pipeline easement
Offer: $38,200
Result: $702,017.73
Sand mining site – Pipeline easement
Offer: $70,250
Result: $850,000
Agricultural land – pipeline easement
Offer: $68,900
Result: $705,000
Wetlands mitigation site – pipeline easement
Offer: $700,000
Result: $2,075,000
Commercial land – Impacted Access
Offer: $75,080
Award: $235,000
Commercial site – total taking
Result: Over $300,000 more than the offer
Commercial site – Impacted parking
Offer: $714,010
Result: $1,194,810 plus conveyed an adjacent parcel
Residential parcel – Partial take and storm water detention pond installed
Offer: $290,285
Result: $440,000
Residential site – Partial taking and utility easement installed
Offer: $28,500
Result: $102,000
Farm – Pipeline easement
Offer: $20,400
Result: $125,000
Commercial site – Impacted parking
Offer: $275,159
Result: $395,000
Convenience Store – Partial taking with impacted parking
Offer: $149,375
Result: $274,000
Hotel – Taking and removal of buffer and trees at front of property
Offer: $29,718
Result: $65,000
Residential home – temporary slope easement (tying in road to property)
Offer: $1,000
Result: $76,500
*Past case results do not indicate or guarantee future results. Every case has unique facts and circumstances and must be considered on its own merit.