Court of Appeals Decision: DSG Evergreen Family Limited Partnership v. Town of Perry (Eminent Domain)

In DSG Evergreen Family Limited Partnership v. Town of Perry (2017AP2352), the Court of Appeals District IV held that the plaintiff had no private right of action against the town and claim preclusion applied, barring this eminent domain case.

The Town of Perry took property from DSG in an eminent domain action. The land taken included a road, and the condemnation petition required the town to replace the road at a different location. DSG argued that the new road did not meet the “same construction standards” as the former road, violating the petition.

The appeals court held that DSG had no private right of action requiring the town to comply with certain construction standards under Wis. Stat. § 82.50(1) in completing the new road. Furthermore, DSG had no private right of action under the town’s ordinances.

The appeals court further held that claim preclusion applied because DSG failed to bring up its road construction standards argument in previous proceedings regarding just compensation for the eminent domain condemnation of its property.