News

Lewis Rice Rails to Trails practice group was featured in The Highlands Current following a key legal victory for property owners along a 41-mile Beacon-Hopewell rail-trail in New York. On March 24, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled that nine landowners are entitled to compensation, finding that the easements granted to Metro-North were limited to rail use. The court rejected federal arguments against landowner claims, allowing the case to proceed to the compensation phase. This decision adds to Lewis Rice’s strong record in rails-to-trails cases nationwide.

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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.