I'm not among those calling for sainthood for Sarah Palin. But since you brought it up....
Per the Alaska Journal of Commerce, there was a purchase agreement between the city and the Nature Conservancy for the city to buy the 126-acre parcel for $146,500. At the time the city sought to purchase the property for a tourist development project. This was a deal already worked out between the two parties.
The Nature Conservancy -- even though the deal had already been worked -- sold the property to Gary Lundgren. The city subsequently filed suit to enforce its agreement to purchase the property. In July 2000, the city was granted summary judgment.
Lundgren bought the property already under contract for sale to the City of Wasilla. One who purchases such property would best serve his interests by ensuring that property wasn't pending a sale. A visit to the county records office and a little due diligence on his part would've saved him a lot of trouble. It's incumbent upon Lundgren to seek reparation from the Nature Conservancy.. not the City of Wasilla.
So how again is this similar to the situation between Trump, who approached Atlantic City with a plan to requisition the land of Vera Coking? Ms. Coking and her family had owned her property for decades.
The differences between the two cases couldn't be wider.
“The differences between the two cases couldn’t be wider.”
Therefore the Wassila Alaska deal is NOT eminent domain, period.
The court was simply used to enforce a pre-existing contract.
Lundgren was able to buy the property for the inexcusable reason that the Palin team did not pay attention to the details and filing dates of their deal, which had been negotited but not closed.
Lundgren bought the land 100% legally. He was able to because the Mayor, Mrs. Palin, screwed up. then she built services and roads out to the land that the town did not yet own.
The land was Lundgren's. Wasilla took him to court and lost. Then Wasilla took it away from him through eminent domain.
If you find that exercise of government muscle flexing acceptable then you might well be on the wrong forum.
Ping for future reference. Tnx!