And justice for all
To the Editor:

A few years ago Mary Meeks paid $110,000 to buy the Luther P. Jackson Elementary School in Cumberland County, VA, when, after the property had been dormant for years, the county declared the dilapidated 32 classroom building as surplus and put it on the auction block. After Meeks spent years and $250,000 renovating and titivating the property, school officials decided that they needed the school after all, and they offered to buy it back from her for $200,000. When she rejected their insulting offer they invoked Virginia's eminent domain laws, filed papers for a "quick-take," and set aside $200,000 in an account to compensate Meeks. The county tax assessor has valued the land and improvements at $609,000, so if Meeks is, as the Virginia constitution provides, entitled to "just compensation" for her land (she is), you would think that she would have a strong case when she appears before a judge to protest the paltry $200,000 offer. Wrong. The court will not allow property owners to use tax assessments as evidence. This will be an interesting one, and probably heartbreaking one, to watch. But do not expect a speedy resolution: it is in the county's interest to drag this out as long as possible, hoping that financial pressure on Meeks will force her to accept their offer. If Meeks is determined, and wealthy enough to hold out, the litigation could cost her an arm and a leg, and could take years, because the concept of a "speedy trial" has gone to the same grave as the concept of "just compensation."

Cordially, Chuck Esposito

Suches, Ga.