Wait, That’s Not Right! Legal But Questionable Uses of Eminent Domain in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma

International Right of Way Association Region 2, Chapter 36 Spring Forum

On April 4, 2024, Sejin Brooks discussed “Wait That’s Not Right! Legal But Questionable Uses of Eminent Domain in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma” during the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Region 2, Chapter 36 Spring Forum in Arlington, TX.

During the presentation, Sejin examined:

• The City of Austin’s use of condemnation to break its own lease at the airport so the city could take over operations and avoid contract breach; 
• The use of eminent domain to attempt to buy land for a park after it was sold to a developer and the developer did not want to sell it to the state;
• The use of eminent domain to buy a port operation in Louisiana so the operation could be given to another port authority without the power to condemn at below market and below what the actual condemning authority paid; and
• The state’s violation of the Open Meetings Act by letting contracts for projects in Oklahoma move forward without having public open meetings regarding the project and the impacts on potential people to be condemned.

The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) is a global, member-led organization of dedicated professionals within the right of way industry. Established in 1934 as a not-for-profit association, IRWA's purpose has always been to improve people's quality of life through infrastructure development.