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Practice Areas: Primary Practice Areas Land Condemnation & Eminent Domain Law

Additional Information: Stephanie Hutchins Autry has been a trial lawyer since 1987 and has focused her practice on eminent domain since 2000. Stephanie was a partner in the Raleigh office of an international law firm for eight years. During that time, she represented clients in complex insurance transactional and coverage litigation in State and Federal courts throughout the country.

After joining Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as a partner in 1995, Stephanie continued to build this practice while expanding the firm's representation of school boards and other entities on immunity, bad faith and coverage issues. Stephanie's career has included dozens of successful jury and bench trials and reported appellate decisions.

For the last several years, Stephanie has concentrated her practice exclusively in the area of eminent domain, representing property owners in land condemnation matters throughout North Carolina. She has tried many high profile land condemnation cases to favorable jury verdicts, resulting in awards greatly in excess of the condemnor's estimated just compensation. Stephanie's trial success and preparation for trial also produces an exceptional record of resolution through settlement. The diverse cases include condemnation of all types of properties for a wide variety of uses.

Representative clients include Target, Inc., McDonald's, Inc., Duke Realty, Corp., Kirkpatrick Assocs., as well as many other individuals and businesses.
Representative Matters

* Received the highest jury verdict ever awarded in Alamance County, in a case involving the Department of Transportation's condemnation of a portion of a largely vacant tract suitable for commercial development.
* Received a jury verdict, with interest, more than 60 times the condemnor's initial offer for the partial taking of an office complex in Durham County.
* In a case that pitted the State's police power against the requirement to pay just compensation, achieved a favorable multi-million dollar settlement and additional non-monetary concessions for owner of a large mixed-use development.

Articles, Presentations, and Publications

Author and Presenter of numerous publications and lectures, including:

* "Techniques that Work in Selecting and Trying your Condemnation Case to a Jury," (American Bar Association, Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation, San Diego, CA January, 2006)

* "The Impact of Kelo v. New London: Blurring the Line Between Public Use and Private Gain," (Research Triangle Park, January, 2006)
* "Inverse Condemnation," (Greensboro, November, 2005)
* "Medians, Access and Change of Grade: Obtaining Compensation for Legitimate Interferences with Property Rights," (Cary, October, 2004)
* "Eminent Domain: Representing the Landowner," (Raleigh, March, 2004)

Professional, Civic and Community Activities

* Member - Wake County Bar Association
* Member - North Carolina State Bar Association
* Member - North Carolina State Bar
* North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
* Volunteer for Wake County Schools

Accomplishments

* Co-author of proposed legislation protecting property owners’ rights to just compensation, including compensation for lost business profits, appraisal and expert witness costs, and attorneys fees; protecting property owners’ access to public records relating to condemnation of their property; and limiting the use of eminent domain for economic development.

* Named to "The Best Lawyers in America®," 2007, 2008, and 2009 editions in the areas of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law