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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/merc...s/california/northern_california/13934907.htm
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A deaf congregation will receive $4.35 million from the California Department of Transportation, which razed their church to build a freeway ramp.
The out-of-court settlement announced Tuesday grants the Calvary Deaf Church three times the $1.4 million the state originally paid for the property.
"The whole congregation is very happy about this," Pastor Tom Mather said. "The search will now begin for a relocation site."
"I'm not ecstatic and I'm not depressed," said Glenn Mueller, a San Diego-based Caltrans attorney. "Both parties are willing to accept the terms of the settlement."
Trial had been scheduled to start next Monday in a lawsuit the church filed after its 1 1/4-acre property was seized by the state in 2003 under eminent domain.
The church, which drew about 40 regular parishioners, was demolished so the land could be used to build an interchange for State Route 91, Interstate 215 and State Route 60 in an area that is one of the state's worst traffic
bottlenecks. The $300 million project is expected to be completed next year.
The lawsuit also had sought $200,000 in damages for "lost goodwill," a claim normally made by businesses that involves disruption of commerce. The church said the condemnation drove away some members of the congregation.
The case was the second statewide in which a church sued to try to force Caltrans to pay more after the agency took property for freeway work.
In 1997, an Orange County jury awarded $1.7 million to the Foursquare Gospel Church of Anaheim after its property was seized to widen Interstate 5.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A deaf congregation will receive $4.35 million from the California Department of Transportation, which razed their church to build a freeway ramp.
The out-of-court settlement announced Tuesday grants the Calvary Deaf Church three times the $1.4 million the state originally paid for the property.
"The whole congregation is very happy about this," Pastor Tom Mather said. "The search will now begin for a relocation site."
"I'm not ecstatic and I'm not depressed," said Glenn Mueller, a San Diego-based Caltrans attorney. "Both parties are willing to accept the terms of the settlement."
Trial had been scheduled to start next Monday in a lawsuit the church filed after its 1 1/4-acre property was seized by the state in 2003 under eminent domain.
The church, which drew about 40 regular parishioners, was demolished so the land could be used to build an interchange for State Route 91, Interstate 215 and State Route 60 in an area that is one of the state's worst traffic
bottlenecks. The $300 million project is expected to be completed next year.
The lawsuit also had sought $200,000 in damages for "lost goodwill," a claim normally made by businesses that involves disruption of commerce. The church said the condemnation drove away some members of the congregation.
The case was the second statewide in which a church sued to try to force Caltrans to pay more after the agency took property for freeway work.
In 1997, an Orange County jury awarded $1.7 million to the Foursquare Gospel Church of Anaheim after its property was seized to widen Interstate 5.