Free Republic

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Attorney General Jay Nixon sued the Department of Natural Resources on Thursday to try to stop the dismantling of an old Missouri River railroad bridge that historic preservationists hope could someday become part of the Katy Trail State Park. The lawsuit contends the department had no authority to relinquish the state's rights to Boonville bridge to Union Pacific Railroad Co. without getting specific approval from the Legislature. It also contends the Missouri Constitution bars the state from giving its bridge interests to a private company without compensation. And Nixon claims that losing the rights to...

FEDS TAKE PROPERTY FOR A TRAIL; TAKE TAXPAYERS FOR A RIDE William Perry Pendley President and Chief Legal Officer   On May 22, 2002, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ordered the United States to pay J. Paul and Patricia Preseault of Burlington, Vermont, for the unconstitutional taking of their property, that is, without paying for it. The United States was ordered to pay: $234,000, plus interest from the February 5, 1986, date of the taking, for a total of $551,931.30; and $894,855.60 in attorneys' fees. The United States will be writing a check for $1,446,786.90! The United States...