Top California Business and Real Estate Law Firm Wins Substantial Eminent Domain Case Against Caltrans

“Newmeyer & Dillion attorneys Charles Krolikowski, Lily Toubi and Jack Rubin represented an operator of a Chevron station on Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. The station was taken and demolished by Caltrans to make way for the Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange Improvement Project. Caltrans initially offered no financial compensation whatsoever to the owner for the value of the business.

At trial, Caltrans estimated the value of the business at $300,000. The business owner estimated the station’s value at approximately $1.4 million. The case went to jury trial in Orange County Superior Court to resolve the difference between the respective business values. After five days of testimony, the jury awarded the station’s operator $921,500 in business goodwill. The operator will be seeking court costs, attorney fees and expert fees in post-trial proceedings.”

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