Individuals of all social and economic groups can experience financial troubles, including politicians, business leaders, celebrities, athletes, and other public figures. Here is a list of some recognized individuals who have used the protections of bankruptcy to obtain relief during times of financial distress: 1. Abraham Lincoln …
The California Transportation Commission (CalTrans) has released information on new funding for various infrastructure projects throughout the state. CalTrans has allocated $138 million in new funding to 32 projects that is supposed to improve highways, bridges, and passenger rail service. The allocations include approximately $25 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters…
On Tuesday, we reported that on Friday January 24, 2014 Governor Brown’s administration requested that the California Supreme Court decide whether two adverse rulings by Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny were correct- rulings that could impact the condemnation proceedings required by the High Speed Rail project. Yesterday, the Supreme Court declined to hear the matter…
On March 18, 2013, the High Speed Rail Authority (“Authority”) asked its Finance Committee to authorize the issuance of more than $8 billion in bonds – in part to take private property for the project. The Finance Committee obliged stating it was “necessary and desirable” to do so. The Authority then filed an action in…
The High Speed Rail and Sacramento Arena Project are not the only significant eminent domain takings happening in California. The Wilderness Act, which authorizes the Federal government to designate public lands as national forests and national parks, marked its 50th year in 2013. Federal lawmakers have proposed two pieces of legislation pursuant to the Wilderness…
On Tuesday January, 7, 2014, high-level Sacramento City officials will request authority from the Sacramento City Council to file an eminent domain lawsuit seeking to take the former Macy’s men’s clothing and furniture store located at 500 K Street in the Downtown Plaza shopping mall. The property on which the Macy’s building is located comprises…
Despite a previously invalidated funding plan, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has proceeded to request seizure of a 2.5 acre parcel located in Fresno, California. The CHSRA contends that the parcel is a “critical” component of the rail’s infrastructure and plans to build an underground trench on the property. Today, the parcel houses…
Last week, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge rejected the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s funding plan for the controversial $68 billion bullet train. The CHSRA requested the judge to allow it to sell $8 billion of the Proposition 1A bonds, totaling $10 billion, but this request was denied as the presiding judge ruled that the…
In 2008, Solano County sued Michelle Valine to take roughly 10 acres of a Suisun Valley property her family has owned and farmed for decades. It did so to construct an expressway paralleling I-80 from Chadbourne Road to Business Center Drive. That expressway now bisects the 82-acre property where Ms. Valine lives, inviting cars and…
On November 15, 2013, Hon. Judge Meredith Jury denied CalPERS’ request to challenge San Bernardino’s eligibility for bankruptcy protection at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals level. The judge held that such an appeal would be “duplicative” and essentially a waste of judicial resources. It has already been adjudged that San Bernardino is eligible to…
