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Gary David Strauss began
his legal career working with Ackerman & Ackerman, PC,
one of Michigan’s most successful law firms representing
property owners. After his 5 year tenure at Ackerman & Ackerman,
he joined Finkel Whitefield, where he represented the Michigan
Department of Transportation and various cities, townships,
counties and airports throughout the State. He started his
own practice in January of 2003, where he concentrates on representation
of condemning agencies.
Mr. Strauss’s intensive
experience representing both sides in condemnation matters
has given him a unique perspective on all phases of the condemnation
process. His experience has provided him with substantial exposure
to complex damage claims involving business interruption, loss
of going concern, environmental contamination, wetlands, flood
plains, site preparation,
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infrastructure
costs, zoning, variances, PA 116 agreements, avigation easements
and other airport related issues.
While the initial goal generally
is a fair settlement prior to filing a condemnation lawsuit,
Mr. Strauss is an aggressive litigator. In addition to obtaining
advantageous evidentiary rulings from courts throughout
the state, he successfully has had
numerous opposing appraisals excluded from proceedings, resulting
in more realistic values as the cases proceeded toward trial.
Mr. Strauss graduated, Magna
Cum Laude from the Detroit College of Law (now known as Michigan
State University College of Law). While at the Detroit College
of Law, among numerous distinctions, he was a member and published
author of Detroit College of Law Review and International Law
Review, a Research, Writing & Advocacy Teaching Assistant
and recipient of the Detroit College of Law Faculty Scholar
Award. He also earned a Teaching Certificate in 1984 after
graduating from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan and
earned a B.A. with distinction in 1972 from the University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He is a member of the Michigan State Bar
subcommittee on Eminent Domain, as well as the International
Right of Way Association, where he was appointed co-chair of
the IRWA’s law and legislation committee. He is a business
affiliate with the Michigan Municipal League and a member of
the Birmingham Toastmasters. Mr. Strauss is a frequent speaker
on eminent domain issues and has been invited to speak at the
IRWA’s Fall Education seminars since 1999. He has had
numerous articles published which deal with various condemnation
related issues. |
