County of Wayne v. Hathcock
Michigan Supreme Court
684 N.W.2d 765 (2004)
Relevant factsFree
Wayne County (plaintiff) planned to condemn Hathcock's and other holdover owners' (defendants') land, adjacent to property it had voluntarily acquired near its airport, to build a corporate mall, hotel, conference center, and recreational facilities projected to create 30,000 jobs and generate substantial tax revenue; the trial court and court of appeals found this development plan satisfied the state constitution's public-purpose requirement for eminent domain.
IssueFree
Whether a forced transfer of land from one private entity to another can constitute a taking for "public use."