• About
    • Justin Hodge
    • Luke Ellis
  • Contact Us
  • Eminent Domain FAQs
  • Resources
    • Fair Market Value Considerations
    • Highest and Best Use
    • Highway Expansions
    • Pipelines
    • Power Lines
    • Water Rights
    • What is Eminent Domain?
  • Sitemap
  • Thank You

Texas Condemnation

~ Texas Eminent Domain Explained

Texas Condemnation

Tag Archives: Texas condemnation lawyer

Houston Churches Face Goliath in Eminent-Domain Battle

21 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in Houston, Landowner Rights, Property Rights, texas condemnation, texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas Eminent Domain Attorney, Texas Eminent Domain Lawyer

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Attorneys, Austin, Austin condemnation, Austin eminent domain lawyer, Blog, Church, Condemnation, Condemnation claims, Eminent Domain, Houston, Houston condemnation, Houston eminent domain lawyer, property rights, Texas, Texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas eminent domain lawyer

He and the church have helped congregants through drug addictions and gang violence, establishing a youth center and food pantry as part of the church’s mission, but they may have encountered a problem they cannot overcome: the power of eminent domain.

Bishop Roy Lee Kossie has been preaching at Latter Day Deliverance Revival Church in Houston’s Fifth Ward for 50 years, starting his work in 1965 when the area had gained notoriety as one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods.

At that time, the Fifth Ward became known as the “Bloody Nickel.” But, decades before the spur of its neighborhood violence, locals simply called it the “Nickel.” The neighborhood had served as a hub for minority-owned businesses and development during an era of redlining and de facto segregation. Congressman Mickey Leland and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan are products of the Fifth Ward, both attending Phillis Wheatley High School on Lyons Avenue, one of the nation’s largest black schools before desegregation.

The neighborhood, once flourishing with the hustle-and-bustle of local businesses, began to change in the 60s, according to the Texas State Historical Association, when upwardly mobile residents moved out to seek broader opportunities that stemmed from integration. Some attribute the neighborhood’s economic and social fall to Highway 59’s exclusion of Lyons Avenue and Jensen Drive – two of the Fifth’s busiest streets at the time – as exits on the major roadway, according to Houston History Magazine.

“The decline was slow,” Patricia Pando wrote in the Houston History Magazine. “Businesses did not disappear overnight. Nevertheless, by the late 1960s, the Lyons Avenue and Jensen Drive intersection was all but abandoned except for the still booming nightclub activity.”

The area’s decline did not, however, scare Bishop Kossie away from his church on Lyons Avenue. The church worked to acquire property, including the lots of two neighboring nightclubs, for its ministry.

“People shot first and asked questions later,” he said in a news release from the Liberty Institute. “But, we love this community. This is where the Lord called us and this is where we want to stay.”

He and the church have helped congregants through drug addictions and gang violence, establishing a youth center and food pantry as part of the church’s mission, but they may have encountered a problem they cannot overcome: the power of eminent domain.

The Houston Housing Authority (“HHA”) has made offers to purchase three of the church’s properties and has threatened to use eminent domain if those offers are not accepted, according to a lawsuit filed August 3 by Latter Day Deliverance Revival Church (“Latter Day”) and Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (“Christian Fellowship”). Liberty Institute is representing the churches and stated that the HHA was also seeking property owned by Christian Fellowship, a church that has been in the neighborhood for nearly 40 years.

The two churches in Houston’s Fifth Ward assert that the HHA’s use of eminent domain for a redevelopment project infringes upon the churches’ right to practice religion freely as the entity is seeking to take an “undeveloped” plot that Latter Day currently uses for parking and for its outdoor ministry in addition to other properties owned by the churches.

The HHA was seeking a total of four parcels from the two churches, three from Latter Day and one from Christian Fellowship, according to the Houston Chronicle. Christian Fellowship resides on one of those parcels, and the HHA planned to demolish the church to build a library, according to a lawyer for the Liberty Institute quoted in the Houston Chronicle Aug. 4.

The HHA initiated a redevelopment project in the Houston neighborhood in partnership with the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (“FWCRC”), an organization dedicated to revitalizing the historic Houston neighborhood through various development projects. The project, however, has come under public scrutiny since the lawsuit was filed. The HHA and the FWCRC altered their initial plan in response to the criticism, and their new plan would allow Pastor Quinton Smith to continue his 20-year career at Christian Fellowship.

“Toward ensuring [Pastor Smith’s] congregation continues its important presence in this community, I have asked our authority’s president, Tory Gunsolley, to work with our consultants to create an alternate development plan that does not include the property of First Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church,” Chairman of the Houston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Lance Gilliam said. “Unfortunately, that alternate plan will not allow us to include a new library. We recognize, however, that this sacrifice is balanced by the very real impact Pastor Smith and his congregation will have on the lives of existing and future residents of the Fifth Ward.”

Despite this alteration, the HHA and the FWCRC still plan to acquire Latter Day’s property to build a private health clinic.

“Although I applaud Bishop Kossie’s and his congregation’s impact on the quality of life in the Fifth Ward, I cannot provide him any comfort regarding our disagreement,” Gusnolley said.

The court has granted the churches a temporary restraining order to keep the housing authority off their properties but has not yet decided on whether the potential HHA taking violates the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The HHA and the FWCRC may have noble intentions for the Fifth Ward as the FWCRC has a history of involvement in the community that includes the building of more than 300 homes in an effort to revitalize the Nickel. But, if we have learned anything since Kelo, it is that economic growth and development should not be cause enough to infringe upon someone’s constitutionally-protected property rights. Latter Day purchased its parcels of land with a vision in mind, and the HHA should not come between the church and that vision without having a compelling reason vested in the public interest to do so.

Co-authored by Justin Hodge and Ayla Syed.

If you have any questions about this blog, please feel free to contact Justin Hodge (jhodge@jmehlaw.com). 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

College Station, Texas – Property Owner and Landowner Rights Conference

07 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in College Station, JMEH Law News, Landowner Rights, Property Rights, texas condemnation, texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas Eminent Domain Attorney, Texas Eminent Domain Lawyer

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Austin condemnation, Austin Eminent Domain Attorney, Austin eminent domain lawyer, College Station Eminent Domain, Houston condemnation, Houston Condemnation Lawyer, Houston Eminent Domain Attorney, Houston eminent domain lawyer, landowner rights, property rights, Texas Condemnation, Texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas eminent domain lawyer, Texas Lawyer

College Station has been a hub for growth in recent years, and this growth has triggered the development of several large-scale infrastructure projects that will require the use of eminent-domain to reach fruition. In an effort to help educate local landowners of their rights in these proceedings, Johns Marrs Ellis & Hodge hosted the Property Owner and Land Owner Rights Conference on May 9 in College Station.

Aggie projects

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet

Tiffany Lashmet

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist who focuses on Agricultural Law at Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, spoke to those in attendance about easement negotiations and rights. Lashmet writes and maintains the Texas Agriculture Law blog for A&M, a site that has been regarded as one of the top legal blogs in the nation.

“Condemnation proceedings have very different procedures than other civil cases,” she wrote in one blog. “It is important for landowners to understand the condemnation process in case they ever find themselves faced with a condemnation suit.”

JMEH partners Luke Ellis and Justin Hodge also presented at the conference and provided a summary of Texas Senate and House bills pertaining to eminent domain. Most of the bills discussed did not make their way into legislation at the close of Texas’ 84th Legislative Session. The two also went over what the landowners affected by nearby projects could expect in an eminent-domain lawsuit.

“There were dozens of concerned landowners in attendance who are deeply impacted by these projects,” Hodge said.

The conference also included discussions about land valuation, typical valuation disputes in condemnation cases, and information about what to look for when obtaining an appraiser.

If you have any questions regarding this seminar or any other projects, please feel free to contact Luke Ellis (lellis@jmehlaw.com) or Justin Hodge (jhodge@jmehlaw.com).

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

It Will Take More Than $75 Million to Build High-Speed Rail without Power of Eminent Domain

31 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in Dallas, High-Speed Rail, Houston, Politics, Property Rights, texas condemnation, texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas Eminent Domain Lawyer

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Attorneys, Austin, Austin condemnation, Austin eminent domain lawyer, Blog, Condemnation, Dallas, Dallas Eminent Domain, Eminent Domain, High-Speed Rail, Texas Central, Texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas eminent domain lawyer

Despite its recent funds, the company behind the contentious high-speed passenger rail line between Houston and Dallas may not succeed without the use of eminent domain – a power reserved for takings that serve the public interest.

Texas Central, the company working on developing a high-speed passenger rail line between Houston and Dallas, announced the procurement of $75 million in funding for the project and the hiring of a new CEO last week. This funding will certainly help Texas Central take the next steps needed to develop the rail line, but the company’s efforts may be in vain if it cannot use eminent domain to secure the land needed for the project. Some have even said that the line cannot succeed without eminent domain.

The company recently avoided roadblocks set in place by Texas legislatures, some of whom aimed to prevent the company from using eminent domain for the high-speed rail (read our blogs about Senate Bill 1601 here and here). Texas Central has consistently advertised that it can provide better deals for landowners than a governmental agency could and that the rail uses a fraction of the fuel used by commercial aircrafts, but the thought of a privately-owned company invoking the power of eminent domain for a potentially profitable venture has galvanized many Texans against the rail. Many have joined the efforts of Texans Against High-Speed Rail, a group organized around public opposition to the rail.

“Our aim is to protect private property rights, maintain efficient modes of transportation, and prevent the wasteful use of taxpayer dollars or public subsidies for high-speed rail transportation,” the group stated in its mission statement (Click here to visit the group’s website).

Texas Central’s newly-appointed CEO Tim Keith, a Dallas resident who has nearly 25 years of experience in large-scale real estate and infrastructure project development, recognizes this local opposition to the company’s project.

tim-keith-21-750xx450-600-7-0

Tim Keith

“When it impacts communities and people’s land, it’s very personal,” Keith said to the Dallas Morning News, adding that he plans to better communicate the potential benefits of the project to the public.

Texas Central has submitted its rail line to the Federal Railroad Administration and is awaiting the results of an environmental impact review of the project.

Co-authored by Justin Hodge and Ayla Syed.

If you have any questions about this blog, please feel free to contact Justin Hodge at jhodge@jmehlaw.com

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Supreme Court Rules California Raisin Reserve Requirement is a Taking

17 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in Politics, Property Rights, Supreme Court, texas condemnation, texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Attorneys, Austin eminent domain lawyer, Blog, Condemnation, Eminent Domain, Government takings, Horne v. USDA, Houston eminent domain lawyer, politics, property rights, Raisins, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas condemnation lawyer

In its most recent round of decisions, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of our favorite raisin farmers in Horne v. USDA and determined that the raisin reserve requirement mandated by the California Raisin Marketing Order did indeed constitute a taking under the Fifth Amendment (read our previous blog on Horne v. USDA here). This ruling is a welcome move in the right direction to better protect individual property rights.

Chief Justice Roberts delivered the Court’s 8-1 opinion in which Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito concurred in full and Justice Stephen Breyer, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, concurred in part and dissented in part. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a solo dissent.

“The reserve requirement imposed by the Raisin Committee is a clear physical taking,” Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. “Actual raisins are transferred from the growers to the Government. Title to the raisins passes to the Raisin Committee.”

As with almost any government taking, the original property owner is entitled to just compensation for his or her property. The Supreme Court majority determined the amount initially assessed by the government as a fine for the Horne’s withholding their raisins from the reserve constituted the fair-market price for the Horne’s raisins.

“The Government has already calculated the amount of just compensation in this case, when it fined the Hornes the fair market value of the raisins: $483,843.53,” Roberts wrote. “There is accordingly no need for a remand; the Hornes should simply be relieved of the obligation to pay the fine and associated civil penalty they were assessed when they resisted the Government’s effort to take their raisins. This case, in litigation for more than a decade, has gone on long enough” (citations omitted).

This point of the ruling garnered a dissent in part by Breyer, who reasoned that a lower court should be the proper venue for determining compensation for the Hornes.

In her dissent, Sotomayor reasoned that the marketing order does not constitute a per se taking and was, instead, a reasonable government regulation on partaking in the raisin market. Sotomayor also construed the marketing order as a regulatory taking rather than a total, per se taking because the Hornes held a residual interest in the reserve raisins. She reasoned they would receive a portion of the proceeds if the government sold those raisins and, therefore, had not lost all of their property rights to those raisins.

Her reasoning did not prevail in this case, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Horne v. USDA sets a precedent that will help better protect property owners from unjust takings.

Marvin Horne, who has been entangled with this matter for more than a decade, said he was astounded by this victory, the LA Times reported.

“It’s been 11 years, and a lot of water over the dam,” he said.

Co-authored by Justin Hodge and Ayla Syed.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

The Eminent Domain Reforms that Could Have Been

19 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in Politics, Property Rights, texas condemnation, texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Austin condemnation, Austin eminent domain lawyer, Condemnation, Condemnation claims, Congress, debate, elections, Eminent Domain, house of representatives, politics, reform, senate, Texas, Texas Condemnation, Texas condemnation lawyer

As Texas’ 84th Legislative Regular Session closed on June 1, several bills pertinent to eminent-domain reform were sent to the political junkyard where other legislative “almosts” and “could-have-beens” also reside.

Senate Bill 1601, which would have excluded high-speed rail from using eminent domain and thwarted the development of the Texas Central High-Speed Railway between Dallas and Houston, never made it out of the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill was initiated by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, R – Brenham, who filed it with the Texas Senate on March 12 this year in order to better control the use of eminent domain by private companies. To read more about this bill, please read our blog.

Senator Kolkhorst also initiated Senate Bill 474, which died in the Texas House of Representatives after passing through the Senate by a 25-6 vote. In an effort to encourage fair initial offers, the bill would have required those seeking to acquire property to reimburse landowners for their attorneys’ fees if a panel of special commissioners, judge or jury determined the value of the land to be at least 20 percent higher than the amount offered by the condemnor during a condemnation proceeding. The bill initially required compensation only if the value exceeded the offer by at least 10 percent, but that number was changed to 20 percent in the Senate Committee on State Affairs. The House Land and Resource Management Committee left the bill pending. To read more about SB 474, please read our blog.

Senate Bill 479 faced a fate similar to SB 474’s as it made its way out of the Senate in a 29-1 vote only to be left perpetually pending in the House Business and Industry Committee. The bill, authored by Senator Charles Schwertner, R – Georgetown, would have more narrowly defined the phrase “actual progress.” In Texas, a landowner can repurchase his or her land if the condemning party has not made “actual progress” toward the intended use of the property within 10 years of the taking. “Actual progress,” however, can be difficult to define, and SB 479 would have helped remediate that ambiguity. To read more about SB 479, please read our blog.

Co-authored by Justin Hodge and Ayla Syed.

If you have any questions about this post, please feel free to contact Justin Hodge at jhodge@jmehlaw.com

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Texas Independence Day

02 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

adequate compensation, Article I, Battle of Gonzales, Come and Take It, Condemnation, Harris County, Houston condemnation, Houston eminent domain lawyer, just compensation, Pipelines, Power Lines, road projects, Section 17, Texas Condemnation, Texas condemnation lawyer, Texas Constitution, texas eminent domain, texas property rights, TxDOT

As Texans, today we pause to honor those who fought for our independence.  Texas Independence Day symbolizes the strength of those who call Texas home – a resolve to fight for what is fair and right.

Five months prior to the day Texas gained its independence, a fearless group of Texans, who referred to themselves as “Texians,” successfully resisted Mexican forces who were ordered to take a small bronze cannon mounted to the blockhouse in Gonzales, Texas.  In a bold act of defiance, the Texians fashioned a flag containing the phrase “Come and Take It” along with a black star and an image of the cannon.

During that October night, the Texians crossed the river at approximately 7 pm. It is reported that a thick fog rolled in at midnight, delaying the Texian army. Just before sunrise, the Texians reached the Mexican army. With the darkness and fog, the Mexican soldiers could not estimate how many men had surrounded them. At dawn, the Texians emerged from the trees and began firing at the Mexican soldiers. After a failed attempt at a “mediated settlement,” the Texians fired their cannon at the Mexican army. The Mexican army retreated realizing it was outnumbered and outgunned.

Today, Texans battle government and private takings of land for pipelines, power lines, and road projects by condemnation.  There is very little difference between the Mexican army taking the cannon and a private company improperly using eminent domain to take property.  See Texas Rice Land Farmers vs. Denbury Green Pipeline, 363 S.W.3d 192 (Tex. 2012).  Let us celebrate our founding “Texians” wisdom in Article I, Section 17 of the Texas Constitution.  It states:

“(a) No person’s property shall be taken, damaged, or destroyed for or applied to public use without adequate compensation being made, unless by the consent of such person, and only if the taking, damage, or destruction is for:

(1) the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property, notwithstanding an incidental use, by:

(A) the State, a political subdivision of the State, or the public at large; or

(B) an entity granted the power of eminent domain under law; or

(2) the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property.

(b) In this section, “public use” does not include the taking of property under Subsection (a) of this section for transfer to a private entity for the primary purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues.

(c) On or after January 1, 2010, the legislature may enact a general, local, or special law granting the power of eminent domain to an entity only on a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.

(d) When a person’s property is taken under Subsection (a) of this section, except for the use of the State, compensation as described by Subsection (a) shall be first made, or secured by a deposit of money; and no irrevocable or uncontrollable grant of special privileges or immunities shall be made; but all privileges and franchises granted by the Legislature, or created under its authority, shall be subject to the control thereof.”

As Texans, our Constitution guarantees us the right to “adequate compensation” for the taking of property through eminent domain.  Because the “Texians” bravely fought for this right, today we celebrate Texas Independence Day and honor our fallen heroes.

Justin Hodge is a partner with Johns Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP in Houston, Texas.  He defends against government and private takings throughout the State of Texas.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Abbott Boosts Road Budget by $4 Billion

21 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by texascondemnation in Bryan, Houston, Navasota, Politics, Property Rights, texas condemnation, texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, TxDOT

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Aggie Expressway, aggies, Attorneys, Austin, Austin condemnation, Austin eminent domain lawyer, Eminent Domain, greg abbott, Highways, politics, Roads, Texas, Texas Budget, Texas Condemnation, Texas condemnation lawyer, texas eminent domain, Texas eminent domain lawyer, TxDOT

Governor Greg Abbott made public roads a focal point during his first State of the State Address earlier this week and included it as the third of five emergency items Texas will tackle this year.

The new governor’s budget includes an additional $4 billion for Texas roads. The governor attributed this increase in budget to funding from Proposition 1 (read more here), the current State Highway Fund, and the reallocation of half of the state’s new and used vehicle sales taxes outlined in Senate Bill 5 (read more here).

As evident from the governor’s State of the State Address, transportation will remain at the forefront of politics this year. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has a number of projects already in motion already and announced a list of potential projects earlier this year (read more here).

One of the projects picking up speed right now is the Aggie Expressway, expected to be completed within the next few years. This project will extend State Highway 249 from Houston to Navasota, where it will connect to Highway 6 in Grimes County. The expressway could also require up to nearly 600 acres of right-of-way acquisitions.

While a less congested path to Aggieland, or College Station, will certainly help fans commuting on game days, this path will come at a cost to many local land owners.

If you have any questions regarding this or any other road projects, please feel free to contact Justin Hodge (jhodge@jmehlaw.com). To read Abbott’s full Address, click here.

Coauthored by Justin Hodge and Ayla Syed.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

TexasEminentDomainLawyer.com

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by texascondemnation in JMEH Law News, Pipelines, Power Lines, Property Rights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Billboard Valuation, Texas condemnation lawyer, Texas eminent domain case law, Texas Eminent Domain cases, Texas eminent domain law, Texas eminent domain lawyer, TexasEminentDomainLawyer.com

We are excited to announce the launch of our new blog, TexasEminentDomainLawyer.com!  This blog will provide case law updates and summaries on recent eminent-domain decisions in Texas.

TexasEminentDomainLawyer.com

We invite you to enjoy our recent posts summarizing pipeline cases.  We will be adding summaries of new billboard valuation cases soon.  TexasCondemnation.com will continue to provide breaking news and commentary on Condemnation and eminent domain issues.

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Whose Land Is It Anyway? – A Rising Tide of Eminent Domain Cases in Texas

14 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by texascondemnation in Pipelines, Politics, Property Rights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2012, alternative energy, Austin condemnation, Austin eminent domain lawyer, Condemnation, Eminent Domain, Houston condemnation, Houston eminent domain lawyer, Johns Marrs Ellis & Hodge, Keystone XL, Obama, oil and gas, property rights, Romney, Texas, Texas Condemnation, Texas condemnation lawyer, Texas eminent domain lawyer, TransCanada

Julia Trigg Crawford, a Northeast Texas farmer, and numerous landowners across Texas continue to fight for their property rights despite many losses. But what is the reason behind this sudden surge of condemnation cases? The first reason is the economy, the second is demographics. More and more monetary energy is directed towards the development of oil and gas across the state, mostly due to a boom in hydraulic fracturing. The growing population of Texas does not alleviate the problem either. As the issue gains a greater spotlight, so do the opposing views on the bigger question of the pros and cons of developmental progress in the United States. President Obama along with many environmentalists sway towards the cultivation of wind and solar energy, an investment in land safety. GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and the majority of privately owned oil and gas corporations find investing in the economy to be of greater value. The question is not who is right, but how to find a middle ground so that property owners can successfully maintain their land rights.

You can read more about this story at MySanAntonio or the Stateman.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Stay up to date with Justin and Luke

texascondemnation

texascondemnation

Luke Ellis and Justin Hodge are partners with Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP. Justin heads the firm's eminent domain practice in the Houston office. Luke heads the firm's eminent domain practice in the Austin office. Luke Ellis is widely recognized as one of Texas’s top young lawyers—and one of the top lawyers of any age practicing in the area of eminent domain. Mr. Ellis has broad experience and has enjoyed success in many types of civil litigation. Justin Hodge is a trial lawyer who represents Texas landowners in condemnation, eminent-domain, and real-estate lawsuits. He represents landowners in condemnation proceedings, not the governmental authorities or private companies taking property. Mr. Hodge has handled complex condemnation and eminent-domain cases throughout the State of Texas. If you have questions about any of the issues raised in this blog, we invite you to discuss them with us at jhodge@mehlaw.com or lellis@mehlaw.com.

Personal Links

  • Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP

View Full Profile →

RSS TexasCondemnation

  • Jacob Merkord on Fox 7 Austin News Regarding Matterhorn Pipeline in Williamson County, Texas August 3, 2022
    Jacob Merkord, Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP partner, was interviewed on Fox 7 Austin news regarding the upcoming Matterhorn Pipeline …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • Luke Ellis Interviewed on KXAN-NBC News Austin Regarding Matterhorn Pipeline Project July 13, 2022
    Luke Ellis, Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP partner, was interviewed on KXAN-NBC news in Austin regarding the upcoming Matterhorn pipeline …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • Watch Justin Hodge on Fox26 News – Texas Supreme Court Approves Eminent Domain for High Speed Train Between Houston and Dallas June 30, 2022
    Justin Hodge was interviewed on Fox26 news about the Texas Supreme Court’s recent approval of eminent domain for the high …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • ALI CLE Eminent Domain Conference – Scottsdale, Arizona January 28, 2022
    Justin Hodge with Marrs Ellis and Hodge presented at the 2022 ALI CLE Eminent Domain Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. You …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • Brazoria County Bar Association – Eminent Domain Presentation January 20, 2022
    Justin Hodge, Kyle Baum, and Kyle Hlavinka presented on eminent domain at the January 2022 Brazoria County Bar Association luncheon. …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • Oral Arguments Held in Tropical Storm Harvey Downstream Flooding Cases January 13, 2022
    On January 12, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard Milton v. United States (The Tropical Storm …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • Law360 – High Speed Rail Showdown In Texas January 4, 2022
    Emma Whitford, with Law360, wrote a terrific article entitled “3 Real Estate Cases to Watch in 2022.” As part of …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • Groups File Complaint With FHWA Against TxDOT on I-45 Project in Houston, Texas. December 18, 2021
    Alliance Houston, Stop TxDOT I-45, LINK Houston, Texas Appleseed, and Texas Housers filed a complaint on Thursday, December 16, 2021 …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • High Speed Train from San Antonio to Monterrey – TxDOT and Mexico Study Concept December 11, 2021
    TxDOT and Mexico both recently conducted studies connecting San Antonio, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico. Another high-speed train project is also …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation
  • TxDOT I-45 Project is Allowed to Proceed December 3, 2021
    Despite months of delay, the Federal Highway Administration announced that TxDOT is allowed to proceed with portions of the I-45 …Continue reading →
    texascondemnation

Follow Our Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Twitter Updates

Error: Twitter did not respond. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.

Twitter Updates

  • With the #Keystone decision looming, will the President propose a quid pro quo? wp.me/p2D4PK-3i via @JustinAHodge #Obama #Pipelines 9 years ago
  • City of #Austin may pay Whittington $14.1 million for downtown block wp.me/p2D4PK-3f via @JustinAHodge #TexasSupremeCourt 9 years ago
  • Court rules #EPA can withdraw mining permits wp.me/s2D4PK-196 via @JustinAHodge #Coal #Pollution 9 years ago
Follow @TXCondemnation

Twitter Updates

  • With the #Keystone decision looming, will the President propose a quid pro quo? wp.me/p2D4PK-3i via @JustinAHodge #Obama #Pipelines 9 years ago
  • City of #Austin may pay Whittington $14.1 million for downtown block wp.me/p2D4PK-3f via @JustinAHodge #TexasSupremeCourt 9 years ago
  • Court rules #EPA can withdraw mining permits wp.me/s2D4PK-196 via @JustinAHodge #Coal #Pollution 9 years ago
Follow @JMEHLaw

TexasCondemnation

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Pages

  • About
    • Justin Hodge
    • Luke Ellis
  • Contact Us
  • Eminent Domain FAQs
  • Resources
    • Fair Market Value Considerations
    • Highest and Best Use
    • Highway Expansions
    • Pipelines
    • Power Lines
    • Water Rights
    • What is Eminent Domain?
  • Sitemap
  • Thank You

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: