$3,375,000 Recovered for Attorneys Fee in Condemnation Case
Michael Rikon of Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houston, P.C. (http://www.grrhpc.com) law firm obtained $3,375,000 as an additional allowance for legal and appraisal fees under New York's Eminent Domain Procedure Law in Split Rock Partnership against Rockland County Sewer District No. 1. New York Supreme Court.
New York, New York, December 16, 2015 (Newswire.com) - The Sewer District condemned 64 acres of land owned by Split Rock in Hillburn, Rockland County, New York. The Sewer District made an advance payment in the amount of $244,800. After a 16 day trial, Split Rock was awarded $8,100,000 plus $4,762,187 interest, a total of $12,877,061. The award was affirmed by the Appellate Division, 120 AD3d 703 (2d Dept 2014).
In affirming the award made by the trial court, the Appellate Division stated that the lower court properly considered an unconsummated contract to purchase the property as admissible evidence of the subject property’s value.
The affirming court also held that the lower court properly made an adverse inference against the Sewer District with respect to the destruction of draft appraisal reports prepared by its appraiser.
About Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C.:
Since 1923, the law firm of Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C. has been at the forefront of protecting property owners’ constitutional rights, as the only law firm in New York State concentrating exclusively in the area of eminent domain and condemnation law.
“Eminent domain cases represent a drastic operation of the law,” notes partner Michael Rikon. “You really only get one opportunity to litigate these cases; and because of that, they require tremendous vigilance by a knowledgeable attorney to ensure that justice prevails.”
By limiting their practice to the trial of eminent domain cases, the attorneys of Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton have become authorities in the area, securing many significant awards for their clients.
Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C.
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 901
New York, New York 10016
(212) 422-4000
Contact: Michael Rikon 212 422 4000