Monthly Archives: February 2013

The Owners’ Counsel of America has elected three accomplished eminent domain attorneys to serve on its board of directors for 2013: James D. Masterman, a shareholder in the Boston, Massachusetts office of Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Charles L. Ruffin, a shareholder in the Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC offices in Atlanta and Macon, Georgia: and Mark D. Savin, an officer at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Last week, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 110-8, House Bill 8, which seeks to limit the government’s power of eminent domain. HB 8 also passed a first reading in the NC Senate and has been referred to committee.

The Owners’ Counsel of America welcomed two new member-attorneys in January. Anthony H. Misseldine, Esq. of Jackson White, P.C. in Mesa joined as the Arizona representative and Joseph P. Suntum, Esq. of Miller, Miller & Canby in Rockville joined as the Maryland representative of OCA. Mr. Suntum succeeds his partner, James L. Thompson, Esq., who has been named an Emeritus Member of the association.

The Owners’ Counsel of America recently honored one of the country’s leading Constitutional attorneys, James S. Burling, Esq., for his commitment to protecting individual liberty, especially the right of private property ownership. For over 29 years, James Burling has battled the government on behalf of private property owners across the United States in eminent domain, land use regulation and regulatory takings challenges.