Not Every Case is Made the Same; New Jersey Dispute Settled for One Dollar
Provided by HG.org
Most lawsuits settle rather than going all the way to judgment. In fact, the vast majority (often estimated around 90%) of all cases will settle before a trial, and a substantial number of those remaining cases will settle before the verdict is returned.
But not every case is made the same. While the news loves to focus on enormous judgments in cases it deems (rightly or wrongly) as frivolous, one case in New Jersey settled for a surprisingly low amount: just one dollar.
The case began after a New Jersey couple, Harvey and Phyllis Karan, sued the town they live in over the creation of a protective sand dune on the beach between their house and the waterline. The couple complained the sand dune interfered with their view of the beach and water. A jury agreed and awarded them $375,000.
The case went on appeal to the state Supreme Court in July, which overturned the award, holding that the trial court erred by not allowing jurors to consider the dune's benefits in calculating property values.
According to officials, the $1 settlement payment represents compensation for an easement to maintain the dune.
While things may not have gone so well for the Karan's, to avoid a similar result, if you or someone you know has been affected by the construction of a nuisance or other structure that has impacted your property values, you should contact a qualified, local attorney experienced in real estate litigation.
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Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
The case began after a New Jersey couple, Harvey and Phyllis Karan, sued the town they live in over the creation of a protective sand dune on the beach between their house and the waterline. The couple complained the sand dune interfered with their view of the beach and water. A jury agreed and awarded them $375,000.
The case went on appeal to the state Supreme Court in July, which overturned the award, holding that the trial court erred by not allowing jurors to consider the dune's benefits in calculating property values.
According to officials, the $1 settlement payment represents compensation for an easement to maintain the dune.
While things may not have gone so well for the Karan's, to avoid a similar result, if you or someone you know has been affected by the construction of a nuisance or other structure that has impacted your property values, you should contact a qualified, local attorney experienced in real estate litigation.
Copyright HG.org - Google+
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
