News

Lewis Rice Rails-to-Trails attorneys were featured in a WBIW article about a landmark ruling enabling hundreds of Southern Indiana landowners to seek compensation for property taken in the creation of the Monon South Trail. In the article, Lindsay S. C. Brinton highlights the case’s historic nature, noting that class certification in a rails-to-trails matter hasn’t been granted in over two decades. Meghan S. Largent underscores the result’s significance, emphasizing that landowners can now more easily pursue the “just compensation” owed by the federal government.

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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. 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.