DISTRICT SETTLES SCHOOL PROPERTY SUIT.Byline: - Sabrina Decker Las Virgenes Unified School District Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) is a K-12 school district in north-west Los Angeles County, USA consisting of 14 public schools in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, and several small portions of the West Hills section of Los Angeles. settled its lawsuit with the former owners of the controversial Hellman property Friday, agreeing to pay $3.25 million for the land, officials said Friday. The district had originally anticipated paying $1.25 million for the property, but the developer claimed it was owed more money for the land that was taken through the power of eminent domain eminent domain, the right of a government to force the owner of private property sell it if it is needed for a public use. The right is based on the doctrine that a sovereign state has dominion over all lands and buildings within its borders, which has its origins in . District officials said they were satisfied they got a fair deal, because they might have been liable for up to $7 million in total costs, fees and interest for the land had they suffered a defeat at the hands of a jury. ``We paid a lot, but we very possibly might have had to pay more going to a jury trial,'' said Patricia Schulz, president of the school board. ``It was a serious decision that we made - it was not made lightly. A lot of time has gone into reaching a legal settlement. All parties felt that this was the best thing to do.'' Las Virgenes Unified first offered to purchase the property in 1998. When a price could not be agreed upon Adj. 1. agreed upon - constituted or contracted by stipulation or agreement; "stipulatory obligations" stipulatory noncontroversial, uncontroversial - not likely to arouse controversy by the two parties, the school district took legal action to obtain the property through their power of eminent domain in 2000. Prior to Friday's announcement, mandatory settlement negotiations had resulted in an offer from the district of almost $3 million, and a counteroffer In contract law, a proposal made in response to an original offer modifying its terms, but which has the legal effect of rejecting it. A counteroffer normally terminates the original offer, but the original offer remains open for acceptance if the counteroffer expressly of $3.5 million from former owners David Spiegel and Carey Hellman, Schulz said. Spiegel characterized char·ac·ter·ize tr.v. character·ized, character·iz·ing, character·iz·es 1. To describe the qualities or peculiarities of: characterized the warden as ruthless. 2. the settlement as amicable am·i·ca·ble adj. Characterized by or exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; friendly. [Middle English, from Late Latin am and reasonable. ``No one gets home runs in settlements. Nobody is going to be thrilled. But at the end of the day you move on with your life and at the end of the day I think it's the kids who will ultimately benefit when the new school is completed,'' Spiegel said. |
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