HANDBOOK CONTENTS I The Power of Eminent Domain II The Eminent Domain Process III Just Compensation • What is "just compensation"? • Who is entitled to just compensation? • What is "fair market value"? • As of what date will my property be valued? • What happens if the property is rented - who gets the compensation? • What if only part of my property is taken? • What about improvements - is compensation paid for these? • Are business losses compensated? • Is there anything I need to do to protect my right to seek business losses? • Am I entitled to interest? • How much will this cost, and am I entitled to recover my expenses from the government? IV Retaining an Attorney
	THE CALIFORNIA EMINENT DOMAIN HANDBOOK Chapter III: Just Compensation Who is entitled to just compensation? The constitutional requirement of just compensation applies not just to the record owner of the property, but to anyone whose property interest is acquired by the government agency. For example, a business tenant on property to be acquired by eminent domain may be entitled to compensation for the value of his leasehold interest, the value of his fixtures and equipment, and the loss of business goodwill suffered as a result of the government agency's acquisition. Many leases include a "condemnation clause" which spells out the entitlement to compensation as between the owner and tenant. These clauses generally specify whether the tenant is, or is not, entitled to any "leasehold bonus value" -- that is, the value of the tenant's leasehold interest. Courts have virtually uniformly held such condemnation clauses to be enforceable. Even under these provisions, however, the tenant is still often entitled to the value of his own fixtures and equipment and business goodwill. Under the California Constitution, property and business owners are entitled to have just compensation determined by a jury.
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