Jack represents both private and governmental entities, individual landowners, developers, tenants, special districts, and other entities in all aspects of condemnation proceedings.
He is experienced in large and complex cases, including the representation of numerous clients in acquisitions by CDOT, RTD, the E-470 Public Highway Authority, T-REX and other governmental entities. He has also represented many condemning entities in large projects. He has worked with countless appraisers, brokers, land planners, developers, engineers, water and mineral specialists and other experts in preparing and presenting condemnation cases.
This experience has provided Jack with comprehensive knowledge of the valuation process and the ability to represent clients in every stage of a condemnation case, from initial property valuations and negotiations, the filing of a condemnation case, discovery, pretrial motions, the valuation trial and appeals.
Examples of Jack's experience include the following:
- Representation of the Town of Telluride in its condemnation of approximately 572 acres for Open Space purposes
- Representation of multiple landowners condemned as part of the T-REX project, some of whom received multi-million dollar awards and settlements. Examples include a parcel at I-25 and Evans in which the client was awarded over $3 million more than RTD's value testimony at trial, and another matter which was settled for $3.6 million plus the return of approximately 10 acres of valuable development land to the client
- Representation of a landowner at the base of Buttermilk Ski area in Aspen resulting in an award of $5.9 million
- Representation of multiple landowners in Colorado Springs as part of the Powers Boulevard Project, including the representation of one owner in negotiating a complete reconfiguration of an interchange in order to ensure access to the landowner's property
- Representation of a landowner at a U.S. 36 interchange awarding total just compensation of approximately $4.5 million
- Representation of a landowner in a case involving diminished access resulting in Denver District Court Order allowing recovery of substantial damages
- Representation of a landowner in a challenge to the Colorado Department of Transportation's legal authority to condemn property resulting in dismissal of the lawsuit and the award of the landowner's attorney fees
- Representation of utility companies, municipalities, and counties in the acquisition of properties for natural gas pipelines, electric transmission facilities, water and sewer pipelines, and roads
- Representation of several water and sanitation districts, including the recent acquisition of approximately 20 miles of water pipeline easements and the condemnation of an operating sand and gravel pit to be used as a water storage reservoir
- Service as an eminent domain consultant to redevelopers of urban renewal projects in several municipalities, including Denver, Thornton, Aurora, and Federal Heights
- Litigation and consultation with landowners to establish or defend against the creation of access roads, including litigation in Jefferson, El Paso, Pitkin, Routt and Huerfano Counties
Jack has also been involved in many land use cases, including the assertion of adverse possession claims, disputes regarding the public or private nature of roadways, constitutional claims based upon local government exactions, the denial of access permits, and similar issues.
Jack regularly lectures and writes on eminent domain and road law matters for CLE seminars and trade associations across the country and has served for many years as the chair of Colorado's annual Eminent Domain CLE conference hosted by CLE International. He also serves as the co-chair of ALI-ABA's National Condemnation 101 CLE conference. He is admitted to practice in all Colorado state courts, the Federal District Court for the District of Colorado, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.