We've all heard the old joke about
those frightening words, "I'm from the government and I'm here
to help you." When the government comes calling, and says
it needs some or all of your property for a "public purpose", or wants
to build a public project for you to be paid (sometimes for decades)
by assessments against your property, you need an attorney!
Even if
the government doesn't ask first, but starts using your property,
or impacts your property by its activities, you still may be in an
"inverse" condemnation situation.
Mike Hanis has been on both sides
of the issues you will be facing. He has represented government
agencies, and private property owners for years in dealing with the
impacts and property acquisition issues related to public works projects.
He has represented both government and private individuals in court
regarding assessments in Local Improvement Districts. With his
perspective from both sides, he knows what to expect, what's going
on behind the scenes with his opponents, and has developed the connections
and stable of experts to make sure you are treated fairly.
Mike and
Patrick Hanis have represented property owners facing condemnation
by the State, by cities, by utility districts, and by transportation
agencies. Most recently, they have handled cases for property
owners involving the cities of Kent and Covington, and acquisition
cases by Sound Transit. It is an understatement to state that
the final results in those matters were far better for their clients
than what those agencies offered to the property owners before Mike
and Pat were retained.
While promises of specific results can never
be made, condemnation cases are one area of the law where a qualified
attorney can make a very substantial difference. For that reason,
the attorneys at
Hanis Irvine Prothero are often willing to take
such matters on a contingency basis - meaning we only get paid based
on the amount of benefit we achieve for you.
With Local Improvement
Districts, too often we see property owners facing government agencies
unprepared, without resources, and with unfair assessments permanently
in place before they even realize the need for legal help. If
you've even been in one of these situations, you know what a lopsided
match it often can be. In Mike's most recent case for a property
owner in a Local Improvement District matter, he got the Court to
cut the amount of assessment against his client's property in half! The
other property owners in that neighborhood represented themselves
before their City Council. None of them were able to get their
assessments substantially reduced, and are now paying essentially
double for the same project benefits than Mike's clients. Results
like these are not unusual.
You owe it to yourself to contact
Mike,
Patrick, or
Brian Hanis if you are facing one of
these types of governmental action. They will meet with you
for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation, and give you a fair and
candid assessment of what they might be able to do for you.
