Welcome
. . . nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Welcome to the Land Acquisition Section (LAS) homepage! Our primary work is to acquire real estate by direct condemnation for Congressionally authorized public uses; we also review title to agency purchases of real estate for those same uses. Our work involves land in all 50 states and the U.S. territories for uses ranging from national parks to military bases to federal courthouses.
The cases present complex legal and factual questions and can include the power of the United States to condemn under specific acts of Congress, ascertainment of the market value of property, applicability of zoning regulations, and problems related to subdivisions, capitalization of income, and the admissibility of evidence.