Miller Quoted in Story titled “Flooded-out Ohio landowners want to be compensated”

Joseph Miller, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in an Associated Press story regarding a contempt court order against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).  The order was filed to compel the department to comply with a December 2011 Ohio Supreme Court ruling that ordered ODNR to compensate 87 farmers, families and business owners along Grand Lake St. Marys whose lands flood during rain storms. 

The story states:

“The state ‘counts on endless delay to work to its advantage, blunting this court's ruling and allowing it to escape paying full and fair compensation,’ Joe Miller, a Columbus attorney for the landowners, said in a court filing.

The state ‘has been flooding their land for 15 years and is counting on it taking 15 more years to pay compensation,’ Miller wrote.

Miller says a settlement offer earlier this year of about $24 million, or about $5,000 per acre, was a charade meant to prevent the landowners from filing their complaint earlier.

The filing says one property owner has already died, and every day of delay increases the likelihood of more deaths or owners forced to sell their property. Miller says the state has initiated just two compensation procedures.”

To read the entire story, click here.