The U.S. Supreme Court will decide on a case involving land owners in McKenzie County. The justices will decide whether North Dakota law applies when calculating compensation for land taken by a pipeline company under federal eminent domain authority.
The North Dakota Monitor reported extensively on this story Monday morning.
The case involves landowners whose property was taken by WBI Energy for a natural gas pipeline in 2018. The landowners reached a confidential settlement covering the value of the property, but they also want WBI to pay their legal expenses.
A federal judge ordered WBI to pay roughly 380-thousand dollars in attorney fees and other costs. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned that decision.
The landowners argue North Dakota law allows those expenses to be included. WBI says federal law controls the case and does not require payment of attorney fees.
Arguments are expected this fall, with a decision likely several months later.
Mary Steurer reported this story for the North Dakota Monitor. Read more at NorthDakotaMonitor.com.
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