The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California v. Francis Domenigoni, et al.
Published: Aug. 19, 1995 | Result Date: Jul. 25, 1995 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 229049 – $43,200,000
Judge
Court
Riverside Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
George M. Soneff
(Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Joseph Richardson
(technical)
Austin Anderson
(technical)
Dennis Williams
(technical)
John C. Donahue
(technical)
Defendant
Randall L. Jackson
(technical)
John R. Mawhinney
(technical)
Don Owen
(technical)
Facts
The Domenigoni Family has owned, lived on, and farmed the 3,100-acre Domenigoni Ranch for 113 years. Defendants Francis Domenigoni, Fred Domenigoni, and Elsa Barton, now in their 70's and 80's, are the grandchildren of Angelo Domenigoni, who first settled the Domenigoni Valley along Highway 79, southwest of Hemet in the western Riverside county. On January 15, 1993 and October 17, 1994 Plaintiff Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) took approximately 510 acres of the Domenigoni Ranch as part of its 16,000-acre taking to construct MWD's $2-billion Domenigoni Valley Reservoir Project. Plaintiff MWD filed this lawsuit to obtain an order of condemnation and a determination of just compensation owed.
Settlement Discussions
Defendants contend they demanded $29,682,232 and Plaintiff MWD offered $14,481,000.
Damages
Per Plaintiff MWD: $8,000,000 for the 510 acres taken from the 3,100-acre ranch; no severance damages. Per Defendant Domenigoni family: $16,300,000 for the 510 acres taken; and another $26,900,000 for the (severance) damages to the remainder of the ranch -- $43,200,000 total.
Other Information
This case was filed on January 15, 1993; one year, six months, and ten days prior to this result.
Deliberation
12 days
Poll
10-2
Length
9 weeks
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