The Dyer family of Prospect, Maine, operated the Sail Inn Restaurant for 55 years in this coastal Maine community. It was a famous landmark, known for its fried clams and unobstructed views of Penobscot Bay more than five miles down river. Then, out of the blue, the Sail Inn was taken by eminent domain to make way for a new bridge across the Penobscot River. For more than five years this case was deliberated within all of the legal processes and remedies allowed under Maine’s interpretation of the eminent domain law. The Dyers finally settled their case with the Maine Department of Transportation in 2008, more than five years after it started.
This case told in short but informative chapters reveals step by step what any landowner should consider when facing eminent domain on their own property. The story leads to a detailed workbook that is an excellent preparatory document to help in the decision to fight the taking or improve your odds for a higher cash or other negotiated settlement. By using this workbook and compelling story you could retain some or all of your land or end up with more money, like many who challenge eminent domain do! Legal counsel and other professional assistance are still recommended.