Legal TREND. 3 Ways Pipelines Alter Eminent Domain Compensation.

• Federal law compensation is viewed to exclude damages taken into acocunt under state law
• Property laws, like a pipeline easement are governed by state law which complicates just compensation as to whether the state or federal standards should apply
• Does a public objective under federal law meet public use under state law?

These are all coming to a head in an appeal in Pennsylvania court over an interestate natural gas pipeline.

Comments from the Appeals bench include:

• “it’s all about money here,” (directed to the pipeline)
• “A little less money in your client’s pocket.” (directed to the pipeline)
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Courthouse News | Public Interest of Pipeline Takes Focus in Damages Spat