Federal Court Rules Landowners Along Rock Island Trail Corridor Will Be Compensated
Lewis Rice Rails to Trails attorneys received a ruling from the Court of Federal Claims holding the government liable for taking the land of approximately 150 clients who own property underlying the Rock Island Trail, which spans seven counties in Missouri. The land, formerly an abandoned railroad line, was taken from the landowners for the conversion to a trail in 2015. The next step in the litigation will be determining the amount owed to each landowner.
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Lewis Rice's federal takings attorneys represent landowners throughout the United States pursuing takings claims against the federal government. One primary focus of the group is representing landowners in what is commonly referred to as rails to trails takings. Attorneys in this group litigate cases in the United States Court of Federal Claims on behalf of those whose property was taken by the federal government pursuant to the National Trails System Act, which authorizes abandoned railroad lines to be converted to public parks. The goal is to obtain compensation from the government for the taking of their land for the public recreational trail.