The agendas and faculty lists have been released for the 2015 ALI-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation (the “masters” program, now in its 32nd year), and Condemnation 101: How to Prepare and Present an Eminent Domain Case (the boot camp or refesher course on eminent domain fundamentals).  The program will take place from February 5-7 in San Francisco.  Information about registration is available here.

Robinson & Cole lawyers Dwight Merriam and Edward O’Hanlan will be speaking at what looks to be a promising program.  Highlights of the program are below.

Denominators and Bright Lines: The Search for the Relevant Parcel in Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings – Bradford B. Kuhn, Nossaman LLP, Irvine, California, Dwight H. Merriam, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford, Connecticut, and Mark M. Murakami, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, L.C., Honolulu.

Entry Statutes: A Taking or a Free Pass? – Norman E. Matteoni, Matteoni O’Laughlin & Hechtman, San Jose, California, Edward V. O’Hanlan, Robinson & Cole LLP, Stamford, Connecticut, and Michael F. Yoshiba, Richards, Watson & Gershon, P.C., Los Angeles

Eminent Domain National Law Update – Robert H. Thomas, Damon, Key, Leon, Kupchak, Hastert and Amy Brigham Boulris, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A., Miami (and me)

Five Simple Rules for Partial Takings – Christian F. Torgrimson, Pursley Friese Torgrimson, Atlanta

When Fourth Amendment Seizures Become Fifth Amendment Takings – Herbert W. Titus, William J. Olson, P.C., Vienna, Virginia

Running the Case: A Team Approach to Working with All the Players –  William E. Ryan, Michael W. Ryan, and Lauren E. Ryan, Ryan & Ryan, Chicago

When Judges Overstep Their Authority: What To Do in the Courtroom – Edward G. Burg, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Los Angeles

Condemnors’ Special Considerations When Using Outside Counsel – David L. Arnold, Pender & Coward, P.C., Suffolk, Virginia, and Brandee L. Caswell, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Denver

Pipelines and Immediate Possession: The Looming Circuit Split Controversy – Justin Hodge, Johns Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP, Houston and Jeremy P. Hopkins, Waldo & Lyle, P.C., Norfolk, Virginia

Contaminated Land: The Impact on Use, Utility, Value and Mitigation – Darius W. Dynkowski, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski P.C., Cleveland; Thomas L. Stokes Jr., Stokes Environmental Associates, Norfolk, Virginia

Equal Access to Justice Act: Recovering Attorney’s Fees if Uncle Sam Condemns –  Stephen J. Clarke, Waldo & Lyle, P.C., Norfolk, Virginia

The Red-headed Step Child: Overcoming Reluctance to Take Relocation Cases ­– Jaclyn Casey Brown, Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP, Denver, Robert Denlow,Denlow & Henry, St. Louis, and Michael Sullivan, Range West Consultants LLC, Prescott, Arizona

What’s Wrong with the Law of Valuation in Eminent Domain: Four Rules to Change – John C. Murphy, Murphy & Evertz, LLP, Costa Mesa, California

How Jury Instructions Frame Your Case – Andrew Prince Brigham, Brigham Property Rights Law Firm PLLC, Jacksonville, Florida and Jack R. Sperber, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Denver

Challenging the Take – Dana Berliner, Director, Institute for Justice, Arlington, Virginia, Janet Bush Handy, Deputy Counsel, Assistant Attorney General, Maryland State Highway Administration, Baltimore and Matthew W. Fellerhoff, Strauss Troy Co., LPA, Cincinnati

How to Simplify Valuation in the Courtroom – Leslie A. Fields, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Denver, Susan Macpherson,Senior Litigation and Jury Consultant, NJP Litigation Consulting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Richard Marchitelli, MAI, Executive Managing Director, Valuation and Advisory, Cushman & Wakefield, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Joe Waldo

Proving Your Case: Staying Focused – H. Dixon Montague, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Houston

Entry Statutes: A Taking or a Free Pass? – Norman E. Matteoni, Matteoni O’Laughlin & Hechtman, San Jose, California, Edward V. O’Hanlan, Robinson & Cole LLP, Stamford, Connecticut, and Michael F. Yoshiba, Richards, Watson & Gershon, P.C., Los Angeles

§ Valuation of Temporary Construction Easements – Keith M. Babcock, Lewis, Babcock & Griffin, LLP, Columbia, South Carolina and Randall A. Smith, Smith & Fawer, L.L.C., New Orleans

Severance Damages in Partial Takings Cases: Lessons Learned and Future Considerations – Anthony F. Della Pelle, McKirdy & Riskin P.A., Morristown, New Jersey

Cross Examining Appraisers: Taking Apart the Key Witness – Jill S. Gelineau, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C., Portland, Oregon and Michael Rikon, Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C., New York

Dropping the Bomb: Challenging Highest and Best Use – Mark D. Savin, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis

Opening and Closing: Laying Out Your Case and Bringing It Home – Joseph P. Suntum, Miller, Miller & Canby, Chartered, Rockville, Maryland

Update on Regulatory Takings Jurisprudence: Decisions that Hit Close to Home – Michael M. Berger, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Los Angeles

Novel Takings Theories: Testing the Boundaries of Property Rights – James S. Burling, Director of Litigation, Pacific Legal Foundation, Sacramento

National Forum: Issues Facing Practitioners Around the Nation and Discussion of Stop and Seizures – plenary session, open forum

One highlight not listed above is the Friday keynote session with Gideon Kanner (Professor of Law Emeritus, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles) and Michael M. Berger (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Los Angeles), The Last 30 Years of Eminent Domain Jurisprudence and its Impact on Today’s Practice.  There will also be a session on Ethics, so you can fulfil your bar association’s mandatory ethics CLE requirement, if you have one