John C. Murphy

John Murphy specializes in eminent domain, inverse condemnation and other complex jury trials. He represents a wide variety of public agencies, corporations, and landowners.

Mr. Murphy has been chosen repeatedly for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, most recently for 2010, in two practice areas: eminent domain law and real estate law. In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Los Angeles Times featured Mr. Murphy in its articles, “Southern California’s Best Lawyers.” Los Angeles magazine has listed him repeatedly in Southern California Super Lawyers. Orange Coast magazine identified him as the only eminent domain specialist in its April, 2007 feature, “Best Lawyers in Orange County.”

Mr. Murphy has served as lead trial counsel in numerous significant, successful jury trials. He speaks regularly on eminent domain issues and his cases have garnered significant press coverage. He has been the subject of two Los Angeles Daily Journal profiles and has been featured on the cover of both Verdicts and Settlements and the Daily Journal. John also won one of the largest jury verdicts ($14.6 million) ever obtained in Marin County Superior Court.

In 2006, Mr. Murphy was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Murphy has managed, or played a lead role in, several major public agency acquisition projects. These agencies include:

• Orange County Flood Control District (2008 - Present).
• Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (2003 – Present).
• Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies (1996 – 2007).
• Riverside County Economic Development Agency (2007 – Present).
• Riverside County (2007 - Present).
• Riverside County Law Library District (2006 – Present).
• City of Los Angeles Department of Airports (LAWA) (2004 – 2007).
• Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (1998 – 2003).

Mr. Murphy spoke on trial tactics in eminent domain at the American Law Institute – American Bar Association (ALI-ABA) 23rd Annual Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference in San Diego in 2006. He also spoke at the January 2009 ALI-ABA national seminar on eminent domain in Miami, Florida. Over the past five years, Mr. Murphy has spoken at over 10 IRWA seminars and programs. Most recently, he spoke at the IRWA’s 2009 Annual International Education Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mr. Murphy is currently working on a chapter on condemnation for a publication of the California Continuing Education of the Bar; and a chapter of the ABA book on expert witnesses. He speaks frequently at Appraisal Institute seminars, and serves as co-chairman of the annual CLE International Southern California seminar on Eminent Domain.

Mr. Murphy is the former president of Chapter 67 of the International Right of Way Association (2000) and former member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Foundation. He is a past President of the Warren J. Ferguson Chapter of the American Inns of Court and is currently on the Dean’s Council of the Chapman University Law School. He is also a member of Lambda Alpha, and an affiliate member of the Appraisal Institute.

Recent Work / Representative Matters

Representative Matters – Landowner Focus.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Altmans, et al. - Representation of the owner of an RV dealership. The condemning agency, Caltrans, initially offered $958,000. The case settled one week before the jury trial was to begin for total compensation of $7.85 million.

City of La Puente Redevelopment Agency vs. Gudzunas, et al. - Representation of the owner of a three acre retail shopping mall developed in the 1950s. The condemning agency, the City of La Puente Redevelopment Agency, initially offered $3.55 million. Our team negotiated a lost rent agreement which insulated our client from any loss of income during the litigation. The case then settled on the eve of jury trial for total compensation of $6.2 million to our client.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Calvary Deaf Church and the Southern California Assemblies of God - Won a $ 4.6 million settlement, just one week before a scheduled three week jury trial for the defendant congregation and denomination. Caltrans had previously offered no more than $ 1.6 million and had planned to argue at trial for a $ 770,000 value. The final settlement is well more than five times this figure.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Canyon Springs LLC - Represented landowner Canyon Springs LLC. Caltrans offered $1.1 million for 3.79 acres of land near the I-215/State Route 60 interchange. The case settled one week before trial for $3.8 million.

Inland Valley Development Agency v. JAKS, LLC - Represented JAKS, LLC, a shopping center developer, in a condemnation matter over a 10-acre parcel of land located along the I-10 expressway in San Bernardino. The Agency condemned the property in order to convey it to another developer who built a Sam's Club. The Agency argued the property was worth only $1.7 million due to access issues. The case resolved one week before trial for $3.45 million.

Paramount Unified School District v. McLane Manufacturing, Inc., et al. - Represented manufacturer, the largest employer in the City of Paramount, in a condemnation matter. Awarded $5.58 million, more than twice the school district's original $2.2 million offer.

Las Galinas Valley Sanitation District v. Silveira, et al. - Represented a long-time Marin County dairy rancher in a complex condemnation jury trial. The condemning agency's pre-litigation offer was $650,000. The jury verdict amounted to $14,660,000, which was the largest condemnation verdict in the state for 2000, and one of the largest verdicts of any kind in Marin County. Client also won a substantial litigation expense award.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. B.H. & B.M. Woodson Family Trust, et al. - Represented a landowner in a three week condemnation jury trial. The Agency's pre-litigation offer was $1.1 million. The jury's verdict was for $1.9 million. Attorneys fees were also awarded.

United States of America v. 86.38 Acres - Represented Mobil Oil and Armstrong Petroleum in a condemnation case where the public agency, the Army Corp of Engineers, initially offered $645,000. Obtained, on the first day of the jury trial, $4.2 million for the client.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, et al. - Represented the congregation of the oldest church in Orange County in a complex, multi-phase condemnation jury trial. The Agency's pre-litigation offer was $726,000. The verdict and award of litigation expenses totaled $1.9 million.

Garden Grove Agency for Community Development v. Dionisie and Daniela Goia, Garden Grove Auto Care and Care Rent-A-Car - Represented land and business owners in four week condemnation jury trial. The Agency's pre-litigation offer was $636,000. The verdict and attorneys' fees award totaled $1.6 million.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Jack Wade and Cowboy Boogie - Represented the business owner facing condemnation. The public agency offered zero. Obtained $1.2 million for the client.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Russell F. Rohrs, et al. - Represented a ground lessee in a condemnation trial. The Agency's pre-litigation offer was $600,000. The final judgment, after a multi-phase proceeding, totaled $1.2 million.

Santa Ana Unified School District v. Bouchier et al. - Represented the Bouchier family in connection with the taking of an 8.3 acre parcel of land in central Santa Ana, the future site of an elementary school. The case settled for $6.2 million, $700,000 more than offer.

Paramount Unified School District v. DiPinto, et al. - Represented manufacturer (Trams International) of specialty vehicles against condemning school district, and also landlord. The District made no pre-litigation offer at all to Trams International. After several weeks of trial, client won $685,000 from the District, and an additional $280,000 from its landlord.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Rancho Santiago Partnership, et al. - Represented the landowner facing condemnation. The public agency offered $40,000. Settled matter prior to trial for $460,000.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Sanwa Bank California, et al. - Represented the landowner and business owner facing condemnation. The public agency offered $57,800. Settled matter prior to trial for $700,000.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Charles I. Vermeulen and Irene E. Vermeulen - Represented the landowner facing condemnation. The public agency offered $1,184,000. Settled matter prior to trial for $2.65 million.

People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Robert H. Fackiner, et al. - Represented the landowner facing condemnation. The public agency offered $327,000. Settled matter for $1.4 million.

Garden Grove Agency for Community Redevelopment v. Hong, et al. - Represented auto broker and dealer. The Agency's pre-litigation offer was $16,000. The Agency paid client $950,000 to resolve the case, two weeks before jury trial.

City of Corona v. Miguel Vasquez, et al. - Represented owners of restaurant chain when City attempted to acquire landlord's property and evict client. After trial, vindicated client's right to possession and won substantial award of attorneys fees.

City of Santa Ana v. Atia Manmoud El Malki - Represented the landowner and business owner facing condemnation. The public agency offered $680,000. Settled matter for $1.350 million.

Merino v. City of Santa Ana - Represented the landowner and business owner facing condemnation. The public agency offered nothing. Settled matter on the first day of trial for $750,000.

Representative Matters – Public Agency Focus.

Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency v. Griswold, et al. - Represented the condemning public agency. After nearly one month of trial, the court adopted our arguments that no substantial interference with access occurred. The case settled soon thereafter.

Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority v. Calmat Company, et al. - Represented the condemning public agency in a case where opponent sought close to $5 million for loss of business goodwill. Settled case for $2.5 million 1 week before trial.

Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority v. Fulofweal, Inc. - Represented the condemning public agency in a case involving a substantial loss of business goodwill claim. The case settled the morning of trial for a fraction of the claim.

San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency v. Costco Wholesale Corporation - Represented the condemning public agency in this two week condemnation trial. Won key motions to exclude testimony. The case settled for the amount of the agency's initial offer.

Los Angeles Unified School District v. McNeill - Represented the condemning public agency. Settled a six figure claim for lost business goodwill for $25,000 after expert depositions, two weeks before trial.

Los Angeles Unified School District v. Esworthy - Represented the condemning public agency. Settled claim based on a valuation claiming a future change of use.

Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority v. Chico's (Rugerio) - Represented the condemning public agency. Settled $3 million claim based on lost inventory, goodwill and real estate for less than $1.2 million.

San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency v. Paul L. Root and Karen J. Root - Represented the condemning agency. Won a two week “entitlement phase” trial and defeated a goodwill loss claim of over $1 million. Successfully handled the real property claim.

San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency v. Charles R. Williams and Dorothy M. Williams, et al. - Represented the condemning agency in this condemnation trial. Succeeded in convincing the landowner's attorney to submit to binding arbitration and then prevailed at arbitration.

Memberships

American Inns of Court, Warren J. Ferguson Inn, President (2005-2006); Vice President (2004-2005); Treasurer (2003); Executive Board (2002-present).

Fellow, American Bar Foundation.

International Right-of-Way Association - Chapter 67, President (2000); President-Elect (1999); Executive Board (1996-Present); Newsletter Editor (1996-1998); Member (1993-Present).

Lambda Alpha (Honorary Real Estate Fraternity).

Orange County Bar Foundation (Board of Directors).

Appraisal Institute, Affiliate.

Orange County Superior Court, Arbitrator (1985-2008).

Chapman University Law School, Dean's Council (2003-present).