TFTT Report
New Case Study: Apple Valley Serves as Condemnation Cautionary Tale
Truth from the Tap has released a new condemnation case study that features Apple Valley, California. The case study details the condemnation battle that ensued when activists and local politicians tried to use eminent domain to take the infrastructure from the system’s owner, Liberty Utilities.
After a 67-day trial, the Court found that Apple Valley residents would be better served if Liberty continued to own and operate the system, calling a takeover by the Town a risky proposition that would hurt local taxpayers. As a result, the Town wasted millions of dollars over more than five years of legal battles just to be told by the Court that their desired takeover “would constitute an experiment posing a risk to public health, safety, and continued effective system operation by a long-term work force” of skilled water professionals.
The experience in Apple Valley serves as a cautionary tale for other communities considering condemnation efforts. The case study is available in the TFTT toolkit and in the TFTT condemnation microsite.