Date: 06-12-2000

Case Style: SDS Co. v. State of Washington, Department of Natural Resources

Case Number: 00-2-00093-5

Judge: Heather K. Van Nuys

Court: Superior Court, Yakima County, Washington

Plaintiff's Attorney: Michael E. Haglund, Schott W. Horngren and Michael Neff of Haglund, Kirtley, Kelly & Horngren, Portland, Oregon

Defendant's Attorney: Michael Grossman and Glen Anderson, Oregon State Attorney General's Office, Salem, Oregon

Description: Inverse condemnation - Logging company was prevented from harvesting forest where endangered spotted owls lived. Plaintiff claimed that the state took its property without judge compensation. The state offered to let the plaintiff harvest trees if it agreed to a polan for the harvestin with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spanning thousands of acres of forest. Because the restrictions on harvesting of trees from the small plot in question were so restrictive, plaintiff claimed that the regulation of its logging activities constituted a taking.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $2.25 million.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None