Real Estate & Property Law

Bedford County, PA Widow Sued

By Alan Ackerman

TV often captures the most acute of the situations.  Many jurisdictions have statutes which provide for entry onto a property prior to condemnation in order to stand assured that it knows what it will be paying for.  Often, utilities, especially these gas storage companies, fail to recognize any portion of what is owed, while sometimes they get it right.  Many jurisdictions have statutes which provide for entry so long as there is no damage and all damage is paid, if there is any.
    
WJACTV

BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. -- A Bedford County widow is being sued for trying to keep Columbia Gas Transmission off her property.

The Texas-based company is using eminent domain to gain access to 67-year-old Mary Ellen McConnell's 125-acre farm.

They want to do seismic tests to see if they can store natural gas under her land.

While others in the area have granted the gas company access, McConnell refuses.

"If the federal marshals want Mary Ellen, they're going to have to come with their pink cuff links and take me away," she said.

McConnell heads to court July 20 in Johnstown.

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on July 22, 2010 (boomark / email).