Eminent Domain 

" . . . NOR SHALL PRIVATE PROPERTY BE TAKEN FOR PUBLIC USE, PUBLIC USE, WITHOUT JUST COMPENSATION"

-- United States Constitution, Fifth Amendment. 

" . . . nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." -- United States Constitution, Fifth Amendment. The Silverstein Law Firm devotes much of its practice to representing property owners, business owners and tenants faced with the threat of eminent domain.

Eminent domain -- also known as condemnation -- is the power of the government to take private property for a public purpose. Traditional public purposes include construction of schools, roadway improvements, and other public facilities.

The California Supreme Court has held that the government must exercise this "tremendous power fairly, equitably and with a deep understanding of the theory and practice of just compensation." City of Los Angeles v. Decker (1977) 18 Cal.3d 860, 871. Regrettably, government often fails to comply with this strict standard of fairness.

The Silverstein Law Firm focuses on the pursuit of just compensation under the Eminent Domain Law, including compensation for real property, fixtures and equipment, business goodwill, leasehold bonus value, precondemnation damages, and relocation benefits.

Our experience includes representing owners and business owners of residential, retail, commercial and industrial properties. We have helped clients receive additional compensation, sometimes many multiples above what the government offered. Robert P. Silverstein of The Silverstein Law Firm has also stopped eminent domain actions through successful challenges to the government's right to take.