Representative Cases
Every case is unique. None of the below results should be interpreted as a promise or estimation of the result in your case.
Eminent Domain
(direct condemnation by a government agency)
Eminent Domain in La Mirada
Initial government offer: $13,665,000
Awarded: $26,000,000 plus relocation benefits.
Peterson Law Group represented the property owner and specialty machine moving and rigging business against Caltrans for the I-5 Widening Project. Caltrans acquired part of the 11-acre industrial property, including the demolition of a 5-acre warehouse and a billboard.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $13,400,000
Awarded: $28,000,000
Peterson Law Group represented the owner of an operating inert landfill and engaged in a complicated analysis and valuation battle involving business goodwill, relocation, highest and best use issues related to geology and geotechnical engineering, civil engineering and site adaptability, land use issues and property valuation.
Eminent Domain in Beverly Hills
Initial government offer: $10,700,000
Awarded: $25,889,600
Peterson Law Group represented 2 adjacent fully occupied commercial buildings on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, which Metro acquired for the Purple Line Extension to Westwood. Peterson Law Group negotiated for the property owners to retain ownership of the land in one of the properties after the expiration of a 10-year easement.
Eminent Domain in Carson
Initial government offer: $5,400,000
Awarded: $10,500,000
Representation of a development company that owned several acres fronting the 405 freeway in Carson that was leased to Cormier Chevrolet. At trial, the Jury awarded compensation that almost doubled the initial offer to the property owner.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $4,100,000
Awarded: $7,700,000
Peterson Law Group represented the owner of a tire retreading business who also owned the underlying real estate.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $4,175,000
Awarded: $7,150,734
Representation of property owner and imported rug business for the Purple Line Extension. Peterson Law Group negotiated for a partial take of the property and a 10-year temporary construction easement, after which the owner retains ownership of the property.
Eminent Domain in La Mirada
Initial government offer: $1,719,000
Awarded: $3,535,000
Caltrans acquired an El Pollo Loco franchisee and the 26,000 square foot property on which it was located. This highly contested case eventually proceeded to a Jury Trial. A 12-person Jury awarded a real estate award that came within 7% of Peterson Law Group’s real estate valuation.
Eminent Domain in Wasco (Central Valley)
Initial government offer: $575,308
Awarded: $1,600,000
As part of the High Speed Rail through the Central Valley farmland, Peterson Law Group represented the owner of an 80-acre producing almond farm. This was a complex case due to a partial acquisition that cut the farm into 2 separate sections.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $4,600,000
Awarded: $7,100,000
In a complex analysis that included environmental issues and a highest and best use theory of the property, Peterson Law Group represented the owner of a former street car maintenance facility that was being operated as a multi-use income property.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles (Art’s District)
Initial government offer: $2,220,000
Awarded: $5,000,025 plus relocation benefits
Peterson Law Group’s client was a family-owned seed distribution company that had existed at its location in the Arts District for 7 decades. The case involved complex valuation problems related to the interaction between real estate and non-moveable machinery and specialized equipment.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $3,093,000
Awarded: $4,850,000 plus relocation benefits
Peterson Law Group represented a Kosher foods distributor, a decades-old family business. The case involved complex issues related to the valuation of cold storage rooms and large-scale freezer facilities.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $1,900,000
Awarded: $4,700,000
Peterson Law Group represented the property owner who also owned and operated a furniture manufacturing business, and assisted in the successful relocation of the business.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $283,000
Awarded: $1,275,000
The City of Los Angeles initially wanted to acquire a portion of an improved industrial parcel on a corner of Olympic Boulevard. Peterson Law Group negotiated for the City to acquire the entire improved parcel and also negotiated for the property owners to have the right of first refusal to purchase a strip of land next door.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $5,276,000
Awarded: $6,484,809
LAUSD chose a residential community in Maywood to build a high school, which would displace approximately 2 blocks of residents. Peterson Law Group assisted in a CEQA challenge against LAUSD and enhanced the property owners’ compensation at mediation that spanned over 3 days for all the homeowners.
Eminent Domain in Playa del Rey
Initial government offer: $330,000
Awarded: $810,473.86
The City of Los Angeles acquired a 33-month temporary construction easement over an R-3 zoned parcel with plans to build a multi-unit residential complex one block from the beach. Peterson Law Group achieved an award 2.5 times the offer, which included compensation for “unreasonable” precondemnation activity.
Eminent Domain in Santa Monica
Initial government offer: $4,385,000
Awarded: $5,400,000 plus relocation benefits.
Expo extended a light rail project from 7th Street and Flower in downtown Los Angeles to downtown Santa Monica, requiring the full acquisition of a custom glass company on Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica that had operated for decades on approximately half an acre.
Eminent Domain in North Hollywood
Initial government offer: $1,760,000
Awarded: $4,390,000
Representation of the owner of property who produced fiberglass and resin products. At a Jury trial, Peterson argued that the property’s highest and best use was for a mixed use commercial residential development.
Eminent Domain Los Angeles (Downtown)
Initial government offer: $840,000
Awarded: $4,000,000
In preparation for the Staples Center, the City acquired a 20,000 square foot parking lot on the corner of Figueroa and Olympic. The City appealed the Jury verdict and award. The Court of Appeal affirmed the Jury verdict and also awarded litigation expenses.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $2,360,000
Awarded: $3,950,000
Peterson Law Group obtained $1,590,000 more than offered to its client, a corporation that owned the property on which a successful gas station operated. The case involved partial acquisitions of portions of the property.
Eminent Domain in Wilmington
Initial government offer: $1,300,000
Awarded: $3,700,000
Representation of the property owner and owner of a marine equipment supply company next to the Ports of LA and Long Beach in a successful Jury trial of business goodwill loss, and in settling the value of the real estate and relocation benefits prior to trial.
Eminent Domain in Rowland Heights
Initial government offer: $700,000
Awarded: $1,900,000
Peterson Law Group represented a gas station for a grade separation/overpass rail project. The project as proposed created impairment of access and diminished the circulation of patrons around the lot.
Eminent Domain in Los Angeles
Initial government offer: $347,500
Awarded: $1,540,000
Peterson Law Group almost quadrupled the amount offered to its client, a property owner who also owned and operated an automobile dismantling and auto parts salvage business.
Inverse Condemnation
(damage of property by a government entity without condemnation)
Inverse Condemnation (Mud flow and flood)
Initial government offer: $0
Awarded: $1,700,000
Three separate residential neighborhoods in the Antelope Valley were buried in mud and water up to 5-feet deep. Peterson Law Group represented the owners of 16 separate properties against several government entities.
Inverse Condemnation (Contract breach)
Initial government offer: $0
Awarded: $6,000,000
Peterson Law Group represented developers against a City and community facilities districts in the trial and the appeal arising out of a Facilities Improvement Agreement that provided for reimbursement for the developers’ unreimbursed costs of infrastructure.
Inverse Condemnation (Landslide)
Initial government offer: $0
Awarded: $4,700,000
A landslide caused major damage and foundation problems to a bluff top home in Palos Verdes. The case proceeded to a multi-week complex trial involving geology, geotechnical engineering and property valuation.
Inverse Condemnation (Landslide)
Initial government offer: $0
Awarded: $4,650,000
Peterson Law Group represented the owner of a downslope estate against a City when a slope failure collapsed a part of a canyon wall and blocked the clients’ driveway, damaged portions of the property, and shut down Laurel Canyon.
Inverse Condemnation (Uneconomic remainder and delay)
Initial government offer: $3,072,000
Awarded: $6,250,000
As part of the High Speed Rail project, the State planned partial acquisitions on 2 sides of a 7-acre commercial property, which would have caused diminished parking and substantial access impairment. Peterson Law Group negotiated a full acquisition of the entire property.
Inverse Condemnation (Earth movement and subsidence)
Initial government offer: $0
Awarded: $255,000
Representation of the property owner and owner of an antique automobile restoration business in Costa Mesa against Caltrans, which removed, replaced and reconstructed the existing roadbed structure, support and embankments of an overpass. The activities lead to loss of support and subsidence of soil causing the industrial building to sink and split in multiple locations.
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