TIME/DATE:
9 a.m./July 23, 2001 Media Conference
11 a.m./July 23, 2001 Trial Begins
PLACE:
New London Courthouse
70 Huntington Street, Courtroom 1
New London, Connecticut
JUDGE:
The Honorable Thomas J. Corradino
PLAINTIFFS:
Richard Beyer, Thelma Brelesky, The Cristofaro
Family, The Dery Family, James and Laura Guretsky, Susette Kelo and
Bill Von Winkle
ATTORNEYS: Scott Bullock, Senior Attorney,
Institute for Justice
Dana Berliner, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice
Chip Mellor, President, Institute for Justice
Scott Sawyer, Local Counsel, The Sawyer Law Firm
SUMMARY: Seven New London, Connecticut, property owners facing the
New London Development Corporation's (NLDC) abuse of eminent domain will
testify Monday, July 23, to protect their right to remain in their Fort
Trumbull homes and businesses. The Washington, D.C.-based Institute
for Justice, the nation's leading legal advocate against eminent domain
abuse, will represent them at a trial expected to last three days.
The Court will rule on the property owners' challenge to the
constitutionality of the NLDC's effort to take their homes and businesses
through eminent domain. Lead Counsel Scott Bullock along with other
representatives from IJ and property owners in the case will hold a news
conference in front of the courthouse steps on Monday, July 23, at 9 a.m.
before the trial begins at 11 a.m.
The City of New London delegated its power of eminent domain to the NLDC,
a private body seeking to take the homes and businesses of those who
refuse to sell for office space and other unknown projects to enhance the
neighboring plant of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. According to the
Connecticut and U.S. Constitutions, eminent domain may only be used for a
public use, such as a road but not for private development.
The Institute litigates eminent domain cases nationwide. It won a
case on behalf of an elderly widow whose house was sought by Donald Trump
and a New Jersey government agency. IJ also successfully spearheaded
a campaign against eminent domain abuse in Pittsburgh, where the mayor
proposed taking 60 privately owned buildings so a private developer could
build an urban shopping mall. Last year, the Institute filed a
lawsuit in federal district court in New York challenging New York's
unconstitutional eminent domain procedures.
Maureen Blum
Institute for Justice
Director of Outreach Programs
PHONE: 202-955-1300
FAX: 202-955-1329
EMAIL: mblum@ij.org |
