Eminent Domain IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT CHOICE

Dallas Eminent Domain Lawyers

Eminent Domain & Condemnation Cases

Under eminent domain, the government has the right to seize your private property for public use. To be lawful, the seizure must involve fair payment, meaning the government agency must pay you the fair market value for your property.

Eminent domain cases often give rise to disputes between government agencies and private property owners. It is important that you work with a knowledgeable attorney, like those at Potts Law Firm, to ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process. We have helped clients successfully challenge the legality of condemnation and seizure, as well as pursue the actual fair market value for their properties seized under eminent domain.

For help with your case, contact our Dallas eminent domain attorneys at (214) 238-8572. Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential.

What Is Eminent Domain?

Eminent domain is covered under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It allows local, state, and federal government entities to seize personal property for public use with proper pay. This process is known as condemnation.

Eminent domain can be used by the government to seize property in order to make way for:

  • Public roads
  • Highways
  • Bridges
  • Public universities or schools
  • Public parks
  • Nature reserves
  • Water treatment plants
  • Reservoirs
  • Oil and gas production
  • Government pipelines
  • Public transportation infrastructure, such as railroads
  • Public developments

For eminent domain seizures to be legal, the condemning agency must prove the validity of public use, public purpose, public good, or public necessity. Additionally, the condemning agency must provide the property owner with just pay based on the fair market value of the property.

Common Issues Under Eminent Domain

Properties may be condemned under eminent domain for various reasons. However, the government can only utilize eminent domain to seize property for “fair public use.” The U.S. Supreme Court has left it up to the individual states to determine what constitutes “fair public use,” and, unsurprisingly, this has led to numerous grey areas in eminent domain cases.

Another common issue with eminent domain is the matter of “fair” pay. The condemning agency must offer the property owner the “fair market value” of their property—but this is largely open to interpretation. Condemning agencies often utilize independent appraisers to evaluate properties who often fail to consider numerous factors affecting current fair market value.

Stopping Eminent Domain

It is possible to stop eminent domain on one of the two following grounds:

  • Public Use: If you can prove that your property was not acquired for a valid public use or purpose, you may be able to stop eminent domain. This includes cases in which eminent domain or condemnation are utilized to seize property for private use, as well as unjustified uses.
  • Fair Market Value: You can also stop eminent domain by proving that you were not offered the fair market value for your property. In some cases, this will only temporarily halt eminent domain but can result in you receiving a fair price for your property.

If you wish to stop eminent domain or condemnation proceedings, we strongly urge you to contact our Dallas eminent domain attorneys at Potts Law Firm right away. These are highly complex cases, and it is important that you have an experienced legal team by your side, one that is committed to protecting your rights and advocating for your best interests.

For a complimentary case review, call (214) 238-8572 or reach us online using our secure form.

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Hear From Our Past Client's
  • I had a wonderful experience with this law firm.

    “They were able to complete it in a timely manner and were great at keeping me up to date with communication throughout the entire process. I highly recommend using this law firm if the need arises.”

    - Stephen P.
  • I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him or any of the team at Potts.

    “Michael Bins has been extremely helpful in helping us to navigate a situation with an insurance claim on a commercial property. He’s gone above and beyond in moving our case toward a positive resolution that we’re satisfied with.”

    - Theo C.
  • The Potts Law Firm is a powerhouse of brilliant attorneys.

    “They know the law from every angle, dig deep, and will not accept anything less than what was asked in the original suit. The Potts team never backed down until the case was settled in full.”

    - Molly H.
  • I highly recommend Adam and Potts Law Firm

    “From the first meeting, Adam made me feel like he had my best interest at heart and took care of everything.  I can't say enough good things about how helpful, professional, and caring Adam was to me.”

    - Mary H.
  • I would recommend Potts Law Firm for any and all legal matters that come my way in the future!

    “The Potts Law Firm answered all of my numerous questions in layman’s terms which is what I needed. I was able to lie back & heal from my injuries knowing full well that my obligations were being handled appropriately.”

    - W. Gary

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Explore our past successes
  • Commercial Property Dispute $645,000

    Potts Law Firm attorneys negotiated a settlement on behalf of a client whose land was taken by a private power line company. The company’s original offer of $430,000 failed to consider the decrease in aesthetic value that the scenic ranch in the Texas Hill Country would incur from the power line installation.

  • Surgical Negligence $600,000

    Partner Adam T. Funk secured a $600,000 settlement for a young woman who was a victim of New Mexico medical malpractice. The woman underwent gallbladder removal surgery; the most common operation in America.  The surgeon negligently performed the procedure, allowing bile to spill within the woman’s abdominal cavity before closing her incision.

  • Wrongful Death of Employee $6.35 Million

    Potts Law Firm served as lead counsel for the family of a man who was killed while on the job due to a product failure. After a short time in litigation, Potts Law Firm was able to settle the case and also received a voluntary worldwide recall of the product; ensuring no one else would suffer injuries or death resulting from the failed product in the future.

  • East Texas Residential Property $454,000

    Potts Law Firm attorneys negotiated on behalf of a residential property owner whose East Texas land was taken by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to make way for new road construction. TxDOT's original offer of $31,343 did not consider damages that the remaining land would incur from the new road build.

  • Seat Back Failure Seven-Figure Settlement

    Potts Law Firm secured a confidential seven-figure settlement against an automobile manufacturer when the client’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle causing the driver’s seat to collapse backward allowing the client to be thrown into the back seat where she received spinal cord injuries, rendering her a quadriplegic.

  • Surgical Negligence Confidential Settlement

    Potts Law Firm achieved a settlement for a medical malpractice case on behalf of a minor injured during surgery in Kansas.

  • Defective Airbag Seven-Figure Settlement

    Potts Law Firm secured a confidential seven-figure settlement against an automobile manufacturer for the clients when their nine-year-old daughter was killed by the passenger side airbag in this low-energy collision.

  • Foot Injury $750,000

    Partner Adam T. Funk secured a $750,000 settlement for an oil rig worker whose foot was severely injured after being caught in rig tongs. The oil rig company had failed to properly tag out and lock out the tongs after a power outage.  When the power returned to the rig, the tongs closed on the worker’s foot, crushing his bones.

  • Residential Property Roof Damage Substantial Settlement

    Partner Andrew A. Woellner was privileged to represent another attorney in his fight against an underpaying insurance carrier.  When his home was damaged by hail in Dallas, Texas, the insurance carrier told him that only 3 roof tiles were damaged, and the repair did not exceed the deductible.

  • Commercial Property Dispute $713,000

    Potts Law Firm attorneys negotiated on behalf of a commercial property owner whose land was taken by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to make way for new road construction. TxDOT's original offer of $466,396 did not consider other reasonable comparable sales in the area.

Fighting Tirelessly for Property Owners’ Rights

At Potts Law Firm, we have seen firsthand how eminent domain is misused by government agencies in an attempt to justify unlawful private property seizure. We have helped property owners who have suffered significant financial losses due to unjustified condemnation and seizure under eminent domain. We have extensive experience assisting property owners in filing inverse condemnation claims against government entities to seek fair compensation for affected properties without the formal exercise of eminent domain. Our attorneys are well-versed in Texas property owners’ rights, zoning laws, public use definitions, fair market valuations, and related matters. No matter how complex your situation may be, our team is ready to fight for you.

Our large, diverse team of litigation lawyers brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our practice. Though we have the resources of a well-established firm, we continue to offer the personal attention and service of a boutique law office. You can expect to receive consistent communication from your legal team throughout the entire process.

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