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Lindsay Brinton and Meghan Largent, attorneys from Lewis Rice’s Federal Takings & Rails to Trails Practice Group, recently won $57,346 in compensation for three landowners in Vigo County, Indiana. These landowners brought takings claims against the federal government for the taking of their property for the Riley Spur Trail, a 5.2-mile recreational hiking and biking trail that crosses over their property.

Landowners’ property underlying the Riley Spur railroad easement was seized on June 9, 2021, pursuant to the National Trails System Act, which authorizes abandoned railroad lines to be converted to public parks. Lindsay and Meghan filed a claim for compensation on behalf of the landowners the next day on June 10, 2021.

Lindsay and Meghan have represented more than 1,000 landowners nationwide in similar cases. They have recovered more than $1 million for landowners throughout Indiana impacted by rail-trail conversions such as the Nickel Plate Trail and the Monon South Trail.

“We’re proud to ensure these landowners received the compensation they are entitled to under the law and to continue advocating for property owners across Indiana and nationwide who are affected by rail-trail conversions,” Lindsay said.

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.