D.C. wins last of the Skyland Shopping Center eminent domain cases
“The D.C. Court of Appeals on Dec. 6 rejected Mary Rose Greene’s claim that she was inadequately compensated for the 7 acres the District seized for the Skyland project. D.C. initially offered $943,000, which Greene declined. Greene argued, with an assist from Dennis Duffy, her expert appraiser, that she was owed $9.56 million.
The case went to trial in a lower court in May 2011, and the jury sided with the District, which had raised its offer to $1.85 million. A three judge panel then backed D.C. on appeal.
“Ms. Greene was given a full and fair opportunity to present evidence to the jury regarding the value of her taken property, and the jury’s rejection of Mr. Duffy’s almost ten million dollar price tag for her land cannot be attributed to any procedural deficiency at her trial,” the panel wrote in a 31-page opinion.”
Neibauer, Michael. Washington Business Journal 10 December 2012.