Riviera Beach Eminent Domain Suits Dropped

ABC WPBF-TV 25

May 11, 2007

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- Two national advocacy groups dropped lawsuits Thursday against the city of Riviera Beach Thursday, aimed at stopping one of the nation's largest eminent domain projects after the city said it would not force residents from their homes. The move comes one year after Florida enacted a law that prohibits the use of eminent domain for private development. Steven Geoffrey Gieseler is an attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation. It sued the city on behalf of residents fighting to stay in their homes. He said the fact that Riviera Beach has backed down and decided not to use eminent domain is evidence that the new state law has teeth.

The Arlington, Virginia-based Institute for Justice also dropped its lawsuit against the city on behalf of residents. Bert Gall, an attorney with the group, said their clients' rights to keep their homes and businesses has been vindicated.