Eminent Domain Report

Next week, Chapter 67 of the IRWA (Orange County) is holding its annual Past Presidents' lunch.   The lunch will feature speaker Randall S. Stamen, an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist -- and an attorney.  In case the really long title is slowing you down, I think that means he is a tree expert and, in particular for the IRWA's purposes, that he has expertise in dealing with relocation and valuation of trees impacted by eminent domain actions.  

Though it seems at first glance like a fairly odd topic, tree issues do arise with some regularity in condemnation cases -- and when cases involve mature trees, the dollars involved can be significant.  Moreover, many appraisers lack the expertise to value trees, meaning an ancillary expert, like Mr. Stamen, can be a key component of a trial team where tree issues exist.  (I even had a case recently where the agency decided not to proceed with a condemnation action due, in part, to concerns about valuing several massive trees that would have been removed by the project.)

Details are as follows:

February 9, 2010
11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Santa Ana/OC Airport Holiday Inn
2726 South Grand Ave.
Santa Ana CA 92705

The cost is $15 if you RSVP in advance, and $20 at the door -- but all Chapter 67 Past Presidents (including, I suspect, my partner Rick Friess) get in for free.  Please RSVP to Hospitality Chair Joe Munsey at Jmunsey@semprautilities.com.