Melissa L. Ferringer

Melissa Ferringer has 20 years of litigation experience and focuses her practice on eminent domain, real property, contract disputes and construction law matters. She has substantial experience in all aspects of civil litigation from initial intake through discovery, mediation and trial at the State Office of Administrative Hearings and various County and State Courts across Texas. Melissa has successfully litigated multimillion-dollar eminent domain and civil litigation cases and obtained favorable verdicts for her clients, including the Texas Department of Transportation.

Melissa plays an integral role in Right-of-Way and other land acquisitions, including the pre-condemnation acquisition phase and has proficiently represented governmental entities, including Travis County and the State of Texas, in multimillion-dollar eminent domain and civil litigation cases. She effectively collaborates with government personnel, right-of-way (ROW) project managers, independent appraisers, land planners, cost estimators and engineers in resolving complex issues. Melissa uses her extensive knowledge and experience analyzing facts and developing case strategies to assess legal risks and probable outcomes based on legal precedents to successfully protect her client’s best interests.

Experience

Austin Transit Partnership.  Currently advising ATP, a CapMetro and City of Austin joint venture, on real property acquisition and related matters for Project Connect which will expand and improve the transit network, including new light rail lines, four new MetroRapid lines, a subway and more services across the city.

Eminent Domain/Condemnation

Melissa has extensive experience handling Special Commissioners Hearings and litigating the acquisition of hundreds of parcels in various counties across Texas, including Travis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery, for the following transportation projects:

• Texas Department of Transportation – I-35 Capital Express Central Project
• Texas Department of Transportation – US 290
• Texas Department of Transportation – SH 99/Grand Parkway
• Texas Department of Transportation – SH 146
• Texas Department of Transportation – I-45
• Texas Department of Transportation – SH 36

Trial Highlights

• Successfully litigated and tried a $2.1 million Eminent Domain case in Harris County and received a $375,000 jury verdict.
• Successfully litigated and tried a $1 million Eminent Domain case in Fort Bend County and received a $164,436 jury verdict.
• Successfully defended, litigated, and tried a $10 Million dollar Contracts/Construction Law case with outside counsel before a three member Disputes Review Board, who issued a binding decision in favor of the Defendant that the Plaintiff take nothing.

Blog Posts

News

Community & Professional

Travis County Women Lawyers Association, Member

Austin Bar Association, Member

Eminent Domain Section of the Austin Bar Association, Member