Lewis Rice Wins $459,870 in Compensation for Sarasota County Landowners
Lindsay S. C.Brinton and Meghan S. Largent, attorneys from Lewis Rice’s Federal Takings & Rails to Trails Practice Group, recently won $459,870 in compensation for three landowners in Sarasota County, Florida. These landowners brought takings claims against the federal government for the taking of their property for the northern extension of the Legacy Trail, a recreational hiking and biking trail that crossed or trespassed on their property.
Several years ago, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued an order allowing Seminole Gulf Railway to sell the line to a non-railroad for trail use. Two months later, Seminole Gulf Railway sold the line to Sarasota County for the northern extension of the Legacy Trail. Landowners’ property underlying the railroad easement was seized pursuant to the National Trails System Act, which authorizes abandoned railroad lines to be converted to public parks.
Over the years, Lindsay and Meghan have helped landowners along the Legacy Trail recover more than $10 million in compensation. In 2023 they won $926,023.70 for two Sarasota County landowners with property on the northern extension.
“There are about 20 Sarasota County landowners who still have the right to file a claim for the just compensation the federal government owes them,” Lindsay said. “We’d be pleased to help ensure that they receive what they are entitled to.”
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. The attorneys in the Federal Takings Practice Group focus on both proving the taking has occurred as well as establishing the value of the property that was taken. Their national work for landowners includes representing landowners coast-to-coast, including 11 states.
