Expert Witness/Testimony
Land Planning Group has provided over 20 years of Expert Witness Testimony in several areas of expertise involving hearings before Zoning & Appeals Boards, City & County Commissioners, Local Planning Agencies, Mediations, Arbitrations, Pre-Trails, and Courtroom Testimony.
Land Planning Group has assisted attorneys for private property owners, local governments, and public agencies by providing technical support, exhibits, graphics, computer-generated reenactments, reports, and analyses that are based on facts and best available information.
Land Planning Group staff maintains the skills and educational levels, and certifications to ensure that when we are retained our clients receive the best, most prepared and most knowable team member. LPG Urban & Regional Planners, Inc’s entire planning staff is AICP certified, and takes pride in that fact. We attend state and national conferences as well as provide speakers at conferences.
Land Planning Group has a reputation to research all options which enables the client attorneys to place their clients in the best position possible to address the client’s needs. We prefer to negotiate with the opposition, and hopefully work out the issues to our client's satisfaction prior to trail; however, if needed we are prepared to go to trial.
Expert testimony before a Judge and Jury is rare, however, Land Planning Group has this experience and has testified from a witness stand and been cross-examined.
Land Planning Group coordinates with the attorney and client at the initiation of a project to review options in dealing with agencies, governments, or utilities who are taking action against the client. The initial meeting is important to explore the documentation and evidence that our Team must prepare. We may use this information to formulate alternatives in the best interest of the client and in most cases, still meet the objective of the agencies, government and utilities that we face. On most teams that Land Planning Group participates, the first efforts are to work out a reasonable compromise, one that is acceptable to both parties. If this is not possible, mediation is then required.
Mediation is a useful process and is successful, not necessarily making both parties happy, but bringing closure to the process most of the time. The last resort would be a trial due to cost, time and risk.
Land Planning Group has represented property owners, local governments, and agencies at both trials and administrative hearings. In the majority of cases, Land Planning Group participation greatly improved the benefit to our clients. Expert testimony is in reality not a science, but an art form, knowing when to realize the best position for the client and to make a deal or decide to go to trial. Land Planning Group pride itself on our experience and teamwork to provide our clients with the best recommendations.
We stand ready to assist you to whatever level of degree of need you or your attorney may have. We have the experts, GIS, graphics, and mapping experts available to make your team the best equipped.