Capital Boulevard, or US-1, is a crucial corridor for Raleigh and Wake County commuters. However, the limited lanes, traffic lights, driveways, and reduced speed limits lend themselves to congested stop-and-go traffic any time of day – especially rush hour. In 2021, NCDOT proposed a solution. Plans to shorten North Carolina commutes by turning the boulevard…
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Transportation planning is a complex task that requires balancing the needs of various stakeholders. For example, the case of U.S. 70 in Durham, North Carolina, highlights the ongoing debate between proponents of traditional highway expansion and those advocating for alternative modes of transportation. The disagreement over the future of U.S. 70 revolves around a four-mile…
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As the city of Raleigh prepares for the reconstruction and expansion of Six Forks Road near North Hills, it has encountered unexpected challenges related to the cost of acquiring necessary real estate. The appraisals conducted for the right-of-way along the road are primarily responsible for a shortfall of approximately $56 million in the city’s budget.…
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Eminent Domain attorneys David Henson and Chris Beacham were presenters at the 2023 Land Condemnation Seminar, hosted by North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ). They presented on the topic of “The Nature And Extent Of The Interest Taken In PUE’s And The 108 Hearing: What Can You Do?” This continuing legal education presentation educated other…
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On the heels of a major win in Wake County regarding permanent utility easements (PUEs) taken by the NC Department of Transportation, attorneys David Henson and Chris Beacham report a second victory in a Craven County case involving the identical issue. In this second win (and only the third known case in the state!), Henson…
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Henson Fuerst land condemnation attorneys David Henson and Chris Beacham report a significant victory for a Wake County property owner in a recent case involving a permanent utility easement (PUE) stretching across the frontage of the property. Henson Fuerst Attorneys have been challenging the overly broad taking language used by the NC Department of Transportation…
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“The promise given was a necessity of the past. The word broken is a necessity of the present.”—Niccolo Machiavelli The Department of Transportation (DOT) often condemns land along its highway projects for utility providers to place the equipment needed to operate their utilities and serve their customers. The DOT does so by taking what are…
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Our attorneys frequently get calls from concerned commercial property owners who are being threatened by NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) right-of-way agents that if a settlement is not reached within a short period of time, that litigation will ensue. But is this a bad thing? In fact, we believe that litigation in most commercial condemnation…
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In all North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) condemnation cases, the DOT must file a court plat after filing each eminent domain lawsuit. Note that this court plat is not the same thing as the colored map that is attached to the lawsuit complaint (that map regularly changes, so it actually means very little in a case).…
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Land condemnation lawyers often refer to having a “108 hearing” in an eminent domain case. But what is that exactly? North Carolina eminent domain law specifies that all damages in a Department of Transportation condemnation case are to be determined by a jury. All other technical issues, however, are determined by the judge, and a 108 hearing…
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