Date: 02-08-2002

Case Style: Municipality of Anchorage v. Lisa K. Suzuki, et al.

Case Number: S-9657

Judge: Eastaugh

Court: Supreme Court of Alaska

Plaintiff's Attorney: Dennis A. Wheeler, Assistant Municipal Attorney, and William A. Greene, Municipal Attorney, Anchorage, for Appellant.

Defendant's Attorney: Richard A. Weinig, Pletcher, Weinig, Fisher & Dennis, Anchorage, for Appellee Dong Joon Lim.

Description: Alaska Statute 09.55.275 requires a municipality to obtain preliminary approval of a replat before an eminent domain acquisition that results in a "boundary change." Because we hold that a "boundary change" results when a municipality takes an easement that is not coextensive with the property lines and that functionally interferes with the landowner's use, the statute required the Municipality of Anchorage to obtain preliminary approval of replats showing the easements involved here.

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Click the case caption above for the full text of the Court's opinion.

Outcome: We therefore affirm the superior court decision requiring the municipality to seek replat approval.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None