San Diego Inverse Condemnation Settles for $420,000

Case Background

David Catton, an individual property owner, filed the lawsuit against the City of San Diego on September 1, 2023. Mr. Catton initiated the action in the Superior Court, claiming the City’s actions or lack of appropriate action had effectively stripped his property of its economic worth. The proceedings set the stage for a classic legal clash over government authority and private property rights in California.

Cause

The root of the complaint was a single, powerful legal claim: Inverse Condemnation. This concept holds a government entity responsible when its public actions cause damage to private property, essentially amounting to a "taking" under the Constitution's eminent domain clause, even though the government never filed formal paperwork to acquire the land. Mr. Catton’s suit argued that the City had engaged in conduct that directly led to the substantial loss of value for his property.

Injury

Mr. Catton claimed the City’s actions had inflicted severe financial injury by depriving his property of all economic value. The claimed injury was not minor damage but a complete loss of the property's utility and marketability. Because of this governmental interference, the Plaintiff lost the ability to use, benefit from, and enjoy his own land. He also lost the potential for rental income and other economic benefits the property ordinarily generated.