Representative Eminent Domain Cases & Verdicts
A comprehensive record of landmark jury verdicts, published appellate precedents, and strategic condemnation settlements achieved by Dale Zeitlin against state, municipal, and federal condemning authorities.
City of Phoenix v. Crescent 2400
$5,700,000 Total Recovery
The City condemned a portion of land from an office building. The City's appraisal was $680,000. The jury awarded nearly $3.8MM, alongside $1.1MM in statutory interest and $765,000 in sanctions against the City for a total recovery of $5,700,000.
State of Arizona v. Foothills (ADOT)
$30,500,000+ Total Recovery
ADOT condemned permanent open space owned by a homeowners association, appraising the land at $2,088,000. Settled for $26,500,000 plus over $4,000,000 in statutory interest.
State of Arizona v. Jones
~$4,000,000 Settlement
The State condemned industrial land with an ADOT appraisal of $1,500,000. Settled for approximately $4,000,000.
City of Scottsdale v. HP, Inc.
$5,790,000 Settlement
The City condemned residential land appraised at $2,611,879. Settled for $5,790,000.
City of Flagstaff v. Hanson
$1,380,916 Settlement
The City condemned an old small industrial property without public sewer or paved access (appraised at $869,550). Settled for $1,380,916.
City of Scottsdale v. Toll Brothers
~$91,000,000 Total Award
The City condemned approximately 384 acres for a desert preserve, appraising the property at $33,800,000. The jury awarded nearly $82,000,000 plus over $9,000,000 in statutory interest. This stands as the largest condemnation verdict in Arizona history.
City of Phoenix v. Garretson
~$4,000,000 Final Judgment
Light rail construction eliminated access to Jefferson Street. The City appraised the take at $7,000; the jury awarded nearly $3,000,000. Mr. Zeitlin successfully argued before the Arizona Supreme Court, establishing landmark precedent that property owners hold a constitutionally protected property right of access to a particular street. Briefs and oral arguments handled directly by Mr. Zeitlin.
State of Arizona v. Liberty Fuel (ADOT)
$21,293,319 Settlement
ADOT condemned a truck stop for the South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway. State appraisal was $9,550,000; settled for $20,274,000 plus interest for a total of $21,293,319.
Maricopa County Stadium District v. Downtown Phoenix Partners
$7,200,000 Total Payment
Taking of a 2-acre vacant parcel at 6th and Jefferson for Bank One Ballpark. County offered $900,000. After a 3-week jury trial, the jury awarded $4,663,100 (100% of Dale Zeitlin's appraisal). Actual payment reached $7,200,000.
United States v. Berman
$26,000,000 Settlement
The US Department of Defense took ~250 acres. Government offer was $7,700,000. After 3 weeks of trial in federal court against the DOJ, the case settled for $26,000,000.
State of Maryland v. Cromwell
~$22,000,000 Settlement
State SHA offered $10,500,000. Dale Zeitlin settled for ~$22,000,000 focusing on deprivation of value due to loss of access. Handled both trial representation and complete valuation analysis before hiring an expert appraiser.
State of Arizona v. Benross, et al.
$11,951,288 Buyback Settlement
Owners donated land in 1989 for Loop 303. ADOT failed to build in a timely fashion. Mr. Zeitlin successfully argued the land should revert to owners, leading ADOT to pay $11,951,288 to buy back the properties.
Salt River Project v. BD218
$4,000,000 Settlement
SRP offered ~$1,000,000 for a strip of land for an overhead electrical transmission easement; settled for $4,000,000.
State of Arizona v. Chrome
$2,950,000 Settlement
State condemned vacant land offering $1,045,000; settled for $2,950,000.
State of Arizona v. Williams (ADOT)
$7,084,177 Settlement
ADOT appraised vacant agricultural land for $2,338,568; settled for $7,084,177.
Southwest Transmission Cooperative v. DJL 2007, LLC
$1,500,000 Settlement
STC offered $74,700 for overhead transmission lines; settled before trial for $1,500,000.
City of Mesa v. 1107 E. Main AZ, LLC
$1,922,388 Settlement
Initial City offer $1,236,500; settled before trial for $1,922,388 for light rail extension.
State of Arizona v. Gross
$2,000,000 Settlement
ADOT offered $350,000; settled for $2,000,000.
State of Arizona v. BD218
$2,372,398 Total Settlement
ADOT partial taking appraised at $823,205; settled prior to trial for $2,372,398 including interest.
State of Arizona (ADOT) v. Canyon Oaks
$15,800,000 Settlement
ADOT appraised vacant land for $7,700,000; settled prior to trial for $15,800,000.
City of Phoenix v. Merrill
$2,260,000 Settlement
City appraised leased fee at $875,000; settled prior to trial for $2,260,000.
City of Peoria v. Airport/Peoria
$3,516,000 Total Compensation
City appraised property at $1,325,000. Jury awarded $2,949,813.16, totaling $3,516,000 with interest.
State of Arizona (ADOT) v. Gateway
$13,000,000+ Settlement
ADOT appraised vacant land at $4,600,000; Dale Zeitlin settled for over $13,000,000 plus ADOT agreement to improve access to remaining property.
City of Scottsdale v. Skyridge
$9,300,000 Settlement
City appraised 40-acre vacant parcel at $5,000,000; settled prior to trial for $9,300,000.
City of Scottsdale v. Ancala
$7,600,000 Settlement
City appraised 24-acre parcel at $3,400,000; settled prior to trial for $7,600,000.
City of Glendale v. Brown
~$4,000,000 Settlement
City condemned 1.5 acres for a pump station (appraised at $163,900). Dale Zeitlin convinced the City to purchase all of client's property for $4.50/sq ft (~$4,000,000).
Maricopa County Stadium District v. King Onion
$6,220,000 Settlement
County offered $1,800,000 including relocation; settled before trial for $6,220,000.
United States v. Pleasant County
$10,800,000 Settlement
Federal appraisal was $4,500,000; settled before trial for $10,800,000.
Maricopa County v. Salamandick Investments
~$5,500,000 Total Payment
County offered $450,000 for 25 acres. During mediation, Dale Zeitlin convinced the County that remaining 125 acres were damaged, resulting in total purchase of ~$5,500,000.
Baltimore County v. Meadowood, Inc.
~$5,000,000 Judgment
County offered $885,000; jury awarded $4,300,000 (~$5,000,000 with interest).
State of Maryland v. Curtis
$4,000,000 Settlement
State Highway Administration offered $555,000; settled before trial for $4,000,000.
State of Maryland v. Braun
$3,200,000 Settlement
State appraised 13 acres at $1,100,000. Dale Zeitlin alleged severance damages from highway bifurcation; settled for $3,200,000.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. D.R. Horton
$1,350,000 Settlement
ADOT acquired access rights contending no compensation was owed; settled before trial for $1,350,000.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Cornforth
$2,722,657.50 Settlement
ADOT offered $1,452,084; settled on behalf of clients for $2,722,657.50.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Dynex
$1,440,609.33 Settlement
Client tried to settle for $700,000 before hiring Dale Zeitlin (ADOT offered $591,200). Dale Zeitlin settled prior to trial for $1,440,609.33.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Cornell
$1,387,903 Settlement
ADOT offered $508,500; settled for $1,387,903.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Sinfa
$94,068.42 Settlement
ADOT took a tiny sliver offering $7,200. Settled prior to trial for $94,068.42 by proving impaired access created severance damages.
State Highway Administration v. Mid-Atlantic Builders
$1,239,000 Total Judgment
SHA offered $258,000 for 4.5 acres. Jury awarded $1,043,550 plus interest bringing total judgment to $1,239,000.
Maricopa County Flood Control District v. Wagner
$2,300,000 Settlement
Flood Control District appraised Gila River land at $702,000; settled prior to jury selection for $2,300,000.
Maricopa County Flood Control District v. Hintze
$800,000 Settlement
District initially argued it owed nothing; case ultimately settled for $800,000.
United States v. The Inn at Antietam
$792,000 Jury Verdict
United States condemned a bed and breakfast offering $80,000; federal jury verdict returned $792,000.
State of Maryland v. Park 100 Limited Partnership
$6,289,000 Settlement
SHA appraised 16 industrial acres at $789,000; settled for $6,289,000.
State of Maryland v. Konterra
$4,100,000 Settlement
SHA valued 20 acres at $400,000 with no severance damages. Settled for $4,100,000 with State agreement to build access into remaining property.
State of Maryland v. Vogel Farm Partnership
$1,950,000 Settlement
Highway Administration valued 7 acres at $197,050 with no severance damages; settled for $1,950,000.
State of Maryland v. Seven Oaks
$7,800,000 Settlement
SHA originally offered $1,300,000 for 30 acres; settled just before trial for $7,800,000.
State Highway Administration v. Legum
~$9,800,000 Total Settlement
SHA offered $3,500,000. Settled on eve of trial for $8,800,000 plus additional land valued at ~$1,000,000 (~$9.8MM total).
The Hopi Tribe v. Navajo Nation
Claims Reduced by $137,000,000
Three consolidated cases originally filed in 1979. Zeitlin & Zeitlin hired by Navajos in 1990. Hopi claims of ~$200MM were successfully reduced to ~$63MM prior to trial.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Valley Citrus
$10,000,000 Settlement
ADOT offered $6,000,000; Dale Zeitlin settled for $10,000,000.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Tang
~$6,600,000 Settlement
ADOT offered ~$3,250,000; settled for ~$6,600,000.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. GTE
$1,800,000 Settlement
ADOT offered $900,000; settled for $1,800,000.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Intel
~$6,000,000 Settlement
ADOT offered ~$3,000,000; settled for ~$6,000,000.
Arizona Department of Transportation v. Royal Palms Apartments
$1,900,000 Settlement
ADOT offered $900,000; settled for $1,900,000.