Politics · India Bureau
US jury awards California family $12.7 million in decades-old land dispute
A federal jury has awarded a California family $12.7 million after the U.S. government seized their 6,300-acre Santa Cruz Island ranch through eminent domain in 1996, concluding a protracted property dispute spanning multiple decades.
LSN India ·
The Gherini family secured the substantial award following a lengthy legal battle with park officials over the government's acquisition of their Santa Cruz Island property. The family's ancestors had maintained ownership of a portion of the island since the late 19th century, establishing a deep-rooted claim to the land.
The U.S. government initially offered the family $4 million for the 6,300-acre ranch, an offer that the family rejected. The dispute intensified when federal authorities invoked eminent domain powers to seize the property in 1996, setting in motion the legal proceedings that would consume the next several decades.
The jury's decision to award $12.7 million significantly exceeded the government's initial offer, reflecting the assessed value of the contested property. The verdict resolves the long-standing disagreement between the Gherini family and the National Park Service, which sought full control of the island ranch.
With the award finalized, the National Park Service can now proceed with obtaining complete authority over the Santa Cruz Island property. The case exemplifies broader tensions between property rights and government conservation efforts in the United States.