Eminent Domain Law Firm Profile

Simatic Biersdorf is a nationwide eminent domain law firm founded in 1988 by lead attorney Dan Biersdorf on the principle that property owner’s Fifth Amendment rights must be asserted and upheld. Our firm solely represents property owners in their claims against condemning authorities with the following issues:

When your property rights are threatened, you need an accomplished advocate to guide you through the eminent domain process. Our attorneys are licensed to handle cases in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. We also obtain temporary licenses in states where we are not licensed if we think the case makes sense to pursue.

Here is our lead attorney, Dan Biersdorf, discussing our role in representing property owners

Our ability to handle cases across the country allows us to focus on larger cases with unusual issues that ultimately help redefine the law in favor of property owners. We have clients in, or have handled cases in over 25 states around the country ranging from Florida to Alaska. The sheer vastness of our practice and experience speaks for itself, and is a true testament to our success as eminent domain lawyers.

Knowledge as an Eminent Domain Attorney

• We at Simatic Biersdorf, we work on eminent domain cases every day 
• We maintain a caseload of over 50 eminent domain cases at all times
• We have clients in or have handled cases in over 25 states across the country
• We have addressed a wide variety of property valuation issues:
  • Total and partial takings
  • Loss of access
  • Wetland designation’s impact on value
  • Loss of development potential
  • Physical destruction to property during construction
  • Takings that create non-conforming uses
  • Inverse Condemnation
  • Contamination issues related to just compensation
  • Mineral Rights

Skill as an Eminent Domain Attorney

• We review and critique appraisals on an ongoing basis, allowing us to quickly assess strengths and weaknesses in appraisal reports
• Background as trial lawyers gives us the experience and knowledge needed to take any case to trial
• We successfully obtained decisions in various appellate and state supreme courts to expand the rights of property owners
• Our ability to handle cases in a broader number of jurisdictions allows us to focus on larger cases with unusual issues that ultimately help redefine the law in favor of property owners

Experience as an Eminent Domain Attorney

• We have recovered damages in excess of 14 times the original offer
• We have handled cases with disputed land values as high as $57,000,000
• We handle eminent domain and other valuation cases involving all types of properties:
  • Agricultural property
  • Apartment complexes
  • Automobile dealerships
  • Beachfront property
  • Churches
  • Commercial development property
  • Corporate headquarter complexes
  • Food processing facilities
  • Industrial buildings
  • Office buildings
  • Quarries
  • Residential development property
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping centers
  • Subsidized housing
  • Warehouse

Fees & costs

We will gladly represent owners in return for an hourly fee; however, most of our clients prefer to hire us on a contingent fee basis. With a contingent fee structure, the law firm assumes the risk for earning a fee. We only receive payment if we obtain more money for the owner than the offer from the government. In that event, our standard fee equals one-third of the additional money received for the property owner.  The contingent fee structure is limited to additional damages claims. Legal issues such as challenging the right to take, appeals beyond the trial court stage, and inverse condemnation claims are handled hourly.

Continent fees refer to the fees charged by an attorney for their services.  The client is also responsible for related costs, such as court costs and expert fees. The primary additional costs are hiring any needed expert witnesses. Generally, every case will require an appraiser. Depending upon the case, there may be a need for an additional expert witness, such as a planner, a broker, a hydrologist, a traffic engineer or other individual with unique skills required for a particular case. However, many cases only require the use of an appraiser.

In some states, attorney’s fees and costs may be recoverable from the government once the statutory threshold is met. 

No cost evaluation and consultation

If you have questions about the eminent domain process, or if you would like us to review an appraisal or offer you have received from the government, please give us a call at 866.339.7242. There is no charge or obligation.