Why do expert teams prove indispensable in Florida eminent domain cases?
Anthony Policastro assembles seasoned professionals—civil engineers, real estate appraisers, land planners, contractors, CPAs, and FF&E appraisers—who specialize in condemnation impacts. Each discipline layers evidence: engineers initiate site-function analysis, contractors cost cures and improvements, appraisers integrate findings into before-and-after valuations. This collaborative framework constructs compelling counteroffers far exceeding surface-level government assessments.
How do owner-hired appraisers produce superior valuations compared to condemning authority reports?
Anthony Policastro notes government appraisers—often lowest-bid contractors—employ cookie-cutter comparables and frequently skip after-value analyses, missing severance damages entirely. Private appraisers conduct comprehensive dual appraisals, identifying nuanced circulation losses, access restrictions, and highest-and-best-use transitions that condemning authorities overlook due to time constraints.
What specific contributions do civil engineers make to Florida eminent domain claims?
Anthony Policastro relies on engineers to interpret construction plans for post-taking functionality—drainage alterations, grade changes, median installations, bike paths, lane expansions, and retention pond placements. They evaluate alternatives, prevent flooding risks, and quantify traffic proximity effects, forming the foundational report that informs all subsequent expert opinions.
How do land planners enhance compensation in Florida condemnation proceedings?
Anthony Policastro engages land planners to determine highest-and-best-use shifts within foreseeable 5–10-year horizons—agricultural to residential, residential to commercial/office. They scrutinize county codes, grandfathering provisions, landscape buffer requirements, and building envelope reductions, ensuring appraisers apply appropriate comparable sales and maximum development potential.
When should CPAs become involved in Florida business damage claims?
Anthony Policastro retains CPAs immediately upon identifying five-year operational continuity—tacking prior ownership periods when applicable. They review financial records, establish reasonable manager salaries, extend leases beyond 10 years with options, and organize five-year documentation for statutory 180-day submissions, strengthening claims before condemning authority 120-day responses.
How does Florida law ensure property owners incur no expert costs in eminent domain disputes?
Anthony Policastro confirms the state’s pro-property stance mandates condemning authorities pay all reasonable attorney and expert fees upon settlement or judgment. Invoices accumulate throughout litigation; negotiated reductions never burden clients—preserving full compensation unlike personal injury contingency models.
What critical property impacts do government reports commonly undervalue in Florida takings?
Anthony Policastro highlights superficial analyses ignoring seasonal parking demands, holiday surges, or code-excess spaces essential for operations. Authorities declare “no damage” when minimum code compliance remains post-taking, disregarding real-world circulation needs, client-specific traffic patterns, and business-specific functionality that expert teams rigorously document.