HORROR STORIES FROM THE DARK SIDE OF EMINENT DOMAIN

Texas, unfortunately, has a history of abusive practices and sad outcomes when it comes to eminent domain.  To get to the point, there are all sorts of powerful interests in our state that don't hesitate to use this legal tool to get whatever properties they require to advance their enterprises in the name of economic progress.

For example, there was a rod and gun club on the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County that ran up against a judge who was determined to see its property taken, despite the club's rationale that their organization's reason for existence was to preserve their property as a natural area for future generations.  Despite the club's argument, the judge was determined  that the state should be able to fill in much of the property, making way for a new 5 million dollar boat launch.

In the Dallas area, Parkland Hospital, using the right of eminent domain, gobbled up unneeded amounts of land surrounding its medical campus. Further investigation revealed that the hospital was intent on enhancing its holdings, speculating that the acquired properties would be attractive sites for commercial office buildings and/or retail outlets, thus adding millions to its portfolio.

A story told many times over concerns property obtained by pipeline companies, which talk up economic advancement in order to activate eminent domain against land owners not wishing to sell.  In many cases, the companies use this legal ploy to obtain narrow strips of property for the specific value of the small parcel of land desired, not taking into consideration the negative effect of the acquisition on the value of the larger amount of property held by the owner.

With the power of eminent domain included in the proposition calling for the establishment of a unneeded and unwanted hospital district that we are slated to vote on in November, it would seem all the more important that this foolishness should be decisively defeated, and especially so when one considers that such power would be exercised through an autonomous, non-elected board.