Hargett v. Town of Ticonderoga

918 N.E.2d 933, 13 N.Y.3d 325
CourtNew York Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 19, 2009
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 918 N.E.2d 933 (Hargett v. Town of Ticonderoga) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hargett v. Town of Ticonderoga, 918 N.E.2d 933, 13 N.Y.3d 325 (N.Y. 2009).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Chief Judge Lippman.

On this appeal, we must determine whether Eminent Domain Procedure Law (EDPL) § 702 (B) provides for reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs when a condemnee successfully challenges a condemnor’s authority to acquire real property in proceedings pursuant to EDPL 207 (A). We conclude that EDPL 702 (B) provides for reimbursement under such circumstances, and the Appellate Division order should be affirmed.

In a prior action, the Appellate Division determined that the Superintendent of Highways of the Town of Ticonderoga exceeded his authority in seeking to condemn certain real property for purposes not related to his position (Matter of Hargett v Town of Ticonderoga, 35 AD3d 1122 [3d Dept 2006], Iv denied 8 NY3d 810 [2007]). The respondent on this appeal (the property owner in the prior action) subsequently commenced this litigation in Supreme Court, Essex County under EDPL 702 (B) seeking reimbursement of attorney’s fees and certain other costs allegedly incurred in connection with the prior proceeding and the Town’s efforts to condemn her property. Both sides moved for summary judgment. Finding no Appellate Division, Third Department case on point, the Supreme Court determined that it was bound by Matter of 49 WB, LLC v Village of Haverstraw (44 AD3d 226, 245-246 [2d Dept 2007])—where the Second Department found EDPL 702 (B) did not provide for reimbursement under these circumstances—and dismissed the complaint (18 Misc 3d 1138[A], 2008 NY Slip Op 50343[U]). The Appellate Division modified the. order by denying defendants’ cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, granting plaintiffs motion for summary judgment as to liability only and remitting to Supreme Court to determine the reasonable amount of her reimbursable costs and expenses (56 AD3d 1016 [328]*328[2008]). It expressly noted its disagreement with the Second Department decision relied on by the lower court, and it determined that EDPL 702 (B) does provide for reimbursement under these circumstances.

The Appellate Division subsequently granted defendants’ motion for leave to appeal to this Court, certifying the following question:

“Did this Court err, as a matter of law, in modifying, on the law, the order of Supreme Court by reversing so much thereof as granted defendants’ cross motion and as denied plaintiffs motion in its entirety; denying defendants’ cross motion, granting plaintiff’s motion on the issue of liability, and remitting the matter to the Supreme Court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this Court’s decision and, as so modified, affirming the order?”

There is no cross appeal by plaintiff. The parties to this appeal have made no arguments as to which particular costs may be recompensed; rather, this appeal is limited to whether there is an entitlement to reimbursement.

Generally, a two-step process is required under the Eminent Domain Procedure Law before a condemnor obtains title to property for public use. The condemnor first makes a determination to condemn the property after invoking the hearing and findings procedures of EDPL 203 and 204 (Matter of City of New York [Grand Lafayette Props. LLC], 6 NY3d 540, 543 [2006]).

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Bluebook (online)
918 N.E.2d 933, 13 N.Y.3d 325, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hargett-v-town-of-ticonderoga-ny-2009.