Surviving Condemnation

Do you know your Constitutional rights?

Our lawyers know what the government does not want you to know about the eminent domain and condemnation process. Learn about your legal rights with a free consultation. Arm yourself with the knowledge that you need. Learn how to prepare yourself and maximize your rights to obtain just compensation.

The issues facing you now!

  • Pre-notice negotiations. Has the government told you they will negotiate a “good deal” for you on the fair market value of your property or business? Don’t be taken advantage of by a self-serving offer. Would you let the buyer tell you what your home is worth?
  • Condemnation/Eminent Domain. The rules are different whether you are the property owner or a business tenant. Did you know that business owners are not automatically notified of a pending action? Are you sure you know all your rights? Have you assembled a team of experts to protect your rights?
  • Owner Participation rights. Do you know you may have a right to re-enter the new development as a participant (alone or in a joint venture) in the redevelopment area? There are short timelines on these rights so you will need to act quickly to protect them before they expire.
  • Soil Remediation Issues. Did you know that in many cases the law makes it the property owner’s responsibility to clean up contaminated soil? Would you let a buyer tell you what is wrong and then stick you with the repair bill without your input?
  • Recovery of lost business value/goodwill. Do you know that many businesses are entitled to be compensated for losing their clients and customers? Do you know all the ways to place a value on your business? Do you really think that the government will give you that value without you having to fight for it?
  • Recovery of just compensation for real property, improvements, machinery and equipment. Learn how we can help to properly appraise and value your improvements and the cost of replacing your machinery and equipment.

Call toll-free NOW, before it's too late: 800-577-2922.


Call now for a free consultation with one of our legal experts.

Would you let the buyer determine the price of your home? Of course not. Yet this is exactly what you are going to be asked to do during the condemnation process. Find out about all the pitfalls and risks facing you in the months ahead with a free “Surviving Condemnation” consultation. We have some of California's top advisors in condemnation law ready to talk to you. Our staff includes:

Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr.
Mr. Bartolotta won the largest condem­nation award in San Diego history. Recognized as Trial Lawyer of the Year for California by the American Board of Trial Advocates, he has also been recognized in Best Lawyers in America every year since 1987. He’s been honored with seven Outstanding Trial Lawyer Awards and two Trial Lawyer of the Year Awards by the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.

Karen Frostrom
Karen Frostrom, a 2006 winner of an Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award for her work in a condemnation case against the City of San Diego, specializes in business litigation, municipal redevelopment, land use, eminent domain, and contract litigation. Ms.Frostrom has received three Outstanding Trial Lawyer Awards for work done in one contract and two eminent domain cases against the City of San Diego, Caltrans and the University of California.

Renee Galente
Renee Galente primarily handles business litigation, land use, contracts, condem-nation, eminent domain and personal injury cases. She is a member of the American Bar Assn., the American Assn. for Justice, Consumer Attorneys of California, San Diego County Bar Assn., Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, and San Diego La Raza Lawyers Assn. In 2010 she was honored as a semi-finalist in both the San Diego Daily Transcript Top Attorneys of San Diego, Personal Injury Division and as a finalist in their Top Young Attorneys Award.

Call toll-free NOW, before it's too late: 800-577-2922.


Over $200,000,000 recovered for our eminent domain clients.

Our firm has a remarkable history of successes both in and out of the courtroom. Some of our eminent domain and condemnation cases are summarized and profiled here. You may find that we have successfully handled a case that is very similar to yours. Of course each case is different and so is the outcome. Every case is judged on its own facts and merits, we cannot promise you that if you have a similar case that your result will be the same. For more information about these and other cases please see our case histories page.

Border Business Park v. City of San Diego
A breach of contract and inverse condem­nation action against the city of San Diego resulting in a $94,500,000.00 jury verdict. Post verdict the judge granted fees and interest bringing the result for our client to above $136,000,000.00

County of San Diego v. RanchoVista Del Mar (De La Fuente)
A $55,000,000.00 verdict at the first trial which was the largest condemnation verdict in the history of the state at that time. Ordered on appeal for retrial, the case eventually settled for $40,000,000.00.

State of California v. Anderprises, Inc.
Caltrans contended that the Andersons had never intended to develop the property and that the property was, at best, valued as a speculative investment that would probably always be open space. Our clients were awarded $26,566,609.00.

People of The State of California v. Metropolitan Properties Trust, et al,
A condemnation case against CalTrans involving just compensation and damages to property that diminished its fair market value. This case was eventually settled for $8,500,000.00 after a four hour mediation.

La Jolla Alta Master Council v. City of San Diego
This complex case was an inverse condemnation action with elements of land subsidence involving an improperly maintained storm drain system in a La Jolla Canyon that threatened the homeowners living in on and in the area of Alta La Jolla Drive. In a La Jolla neighborhood near Soledad Mountain Road, the City of San Diego created and operated a storm drainage system that incorporated property owned by Plaintiff. The operation of this storm drainage system by the City over several years created a massive ravine across Plaintiff’s property, threatening citizens, homes, and Alta La Jolla Drive, a public road. The homeowners brought an inverse condemnation action against the City to force repairs and prevent a landslide. After the verdict a settlement of $4,500,000.00 plus over $5,000,000.00 in repairs was reached for damage caused by the operation of its storm drain system.

People of the State of California v. Grigory Zubkis and Rimma Zubkis, et al.
$2,750,000.00 plus interest totalling $2,790,711.00 settlement for an eminent domain case involving the taking of a private residence for road expansion.

Nastich v. City of Escondido
An inverse condemnation case involving a road expansion that caused flooding and toxic mold contamination, The case eventually settled for $525,000.

Mary Lynn and Warren Reichelt v. California Department of Transportation
An $89,000.00 price differential settlement on a writ of mandamus action resolving an issue where our client was relocated to an inferior neighborhood by CalTrans.

Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego v. Ahmad Mesdaq and related consolidated cases
A $7,785,131.83 jury verdict for an inverse condemnation case involving an Afghan refugee who owned the Gran Havana Cigar Company in the Gas Lamp district of San Diego. After a rags-to-riches success story following Ahmad Mesdaq’s family’s fleeing Afghanistan in the 1980’s, the City of San Diego at the behest of developers condemned his business. A complicated case involving consolidated actions, the City actually allowed the developers to pay for the attorneys used to enforce the condemnation action. A fascinating and relevant case that illustrates just how far local government will go to pacify big money developers in the light of the recent Kelo v. New London Supreme Court ruling.

North San Diego Transit Development Board v. Bivin, et al. and related cases
A $1,187,250.00 eminent domain settlement on behalf of 26 San Marcos area homeowners. The Walnut Hills area of San Marcos is a rustic community with a country lifestyle. The North County Transit District wanted to expand rail service in the area, running a diesel train past their homes every six minutes and offered them an insulting total of $34,000.00 for ruining their rustic way of life.

Call toll-free NOW, before it's too late: 800-577-2922.