Condemnation Loss
Lew Sichelman’s March 12 article, “Getting Top Dollar When Government Wants Your Land,” touched a nerve.
My husband, children and I moved from our family home in October 1997 for the most part due to the construction of the new freeway built within 75 yards from the end of our property.
Due to the [movement of] heavy construction equipment day after day, month after month, our home began to separate from its foundation.
After two years, our insurance company finally came in to make the repairs. Structural damage was more than $35,000.
We hired attorneys, who offered encouragement by citing something called inverse condemnation. We trusted them. Unfortunately, when all was said and done after two years of “fighting city hall,” the attorneys and the “expert witnesses” got the money and we got $287.89.
We lost over $50,000 in equity and ultimately our family home. We feel the government, the contractor and our mortgage company [took advantage of us].
PAT HOFFMANN
Via e-mail
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