Lowball Watch — California

The Los Angeles Daily Journal Verdicts and Settlements supplement, August 22, 2014 reports the settlement of People v. Sani, San Luis Obispo Superior Court No. CV128114. See  http://www.murphyevertz.com/files/news/People%20v.%20Sani.pdf

CalTrans originally offered $1,073,200 for the partial takings of the owners’ two parcels, and later upped its offer to $4,00,200. Using a cross-complaint, the owners also asked for damages to a third parcel which was not made a part of the condemnation action in Caltrans’ eminent domain complaint, but the court eventually denied that claim.

The case eventually settled for $6,440,000, or six times its original offer, with the owners retaining their right to pursue their claim for damages to the third parcel in a separate future action. The report gives no indication what those damages would be for.