Florida is home to the Everglades, a crucial wetlands ecosystem that's home to many endangered species. Over the last several years, several construction projects have been completed to make it more possible for water to flow freely in this area. Recently, a small...
Demanding What Property Owners Deserve
What types of properties can be seized under eminent domain?
In the state of Florida, the government has a constitutional right to seize your property and convert it into land for public use. For example, if the government plans to build a new highway in your area, it might seize your property through the process of eminent...
How eminent domain is used to acquire easements
Government entities in Florida and around the country use the eminent domain process when property must be acquired to complete projects like schools or airports and the owners are unwilling to sell. Property owners are still compensated for the acquired land, but the...
Eminent domain: How it can affect your business
Eminent domain is something most business owners in Florida would rather not think about, but it is a very real possibility. Eminent domain occurs when the state government needs the land your business sits on to develop a project such as a highway. In many cases, the...
Florida Department of Transportation plans to widen Pine Avenue
For many people in Ocala, driving to work in the morning can be a hassle. Pine Avenue is particularly hard to navigate due to the layout. Luckily, the Florida Department of Transportation plans to restructure the highway to make it easier for daily commuters. What are...
The advantages and disadvantages of eminent domain
Eminent domain is the term used to describe the power that is given to local governments, which allows them to take control of privately owned property and convert it to public use. The concept of eminent domain is controversial at best as it gives the government the...
Extreme weather and eminent domain
Homeowners in Florida should be aware that eminent domain has been invoked in an effort to help waterfront communities cope with increasingly extreme weather. The Army Corps of Engineers has formulated a hurricane protection plan that will make use of eminent domain...
Common eminent domain defenses
Eminent domain gives federal and state governments the power to use private property for public purposes. However, it does not mean they can do so without restrictions. The U.S. Constitution restricts this power under the 4th and 15th Amendments. Property owners in...
How compensation is determined for eminent domain
The federal government may take the private property of a person in Florida if that land will be used for the public. This process is referred to as "eminent domain." The Takings Clause to the Fifth Amendment states that the government is required to provide just...
What to know about eminent domain
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution grants the government the power to seize private property in Florida or elsewhere through a process called eminent domain. In some cases, only a portion of a property is seized to build a park, expand a road or fulfill some...