Bradford B. Grabske

Brad Grabske specializes in real estate and complex business litigation. His practice is focused on assisting landowners, businesses, and public agencies with eminent domain, inverse condemnation, contract disputes, and environmental and land-use planning issues.

Mr. Grabske has worked on some of the most complex eminent domain, real estate, and renewable energy matters in California. He has successfully represented clients in high stakes trials and before the appellate courts. He has also been recognized as a “Rising Star” in Los Angeles magazine’s Southern California Super Lawyer edition, which recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of the attorneys in California. 

Mr. Grabske’s eminent domain experience includes total and partial takings, inverse condemnation, loss of business goodwill, precondemnation delay, environmental contamination issues, air-emission permitting issues, and right-to-take challenges. Mr. Grabske also assists clients with matters involving the California Solar Rights Act, the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), and other land use matters.

Mr. Grabske is actively involved in several industry organizations, including the International Right of Way Association (“IRWA”) where he has been a speaker at several local and national IRWA conferences. He also co-authored a chapter on condemnation for the American Bar Association’s expert-witness treatise entitled Litigators on Experts: Strategies for Managing Expert Witnesses from Retention through Trial.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Grabske worked in Washington, D.C. in positions on Capitol Hill and with the United States Chamber of Commerce. While working for the United States Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Grabske served as a Congressional Affairs Representative and Treasurer of the Chamber's Political Action Committee.

Mr. Grabske received both his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Southern California.  

Representative Matters – Landowner Focus

Nyenhuis Family Investments, LLC v. County of San Bernardino — Represented owners of a 60-acre dairy farm in Chino in an inverse condemnation action against the County of San Bernardino relating to expansion of the Chino Airport. After getting the County to concede liability, our team achieved an arbitration victory of nearly $48 million in just compensation and attorneys’ fees for the family.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Gillis Family Partnership — Represented the Gillis family against the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority (“Authority”) in connection with the Authority’s taking of a building owned by the Gillis family in Century City. Before being displaced, the Gillis family operated a cutting-edge medical laboratory in the building. Murphy & Evertz earned an award of $53,503,000 for the building and improvements. 

City of Ontario v. J.W. Mitchell Company, LLC, et al. — Represented the owner of a 43 acre site improved with a 762,296 square foot warehouse/distribution facility. The facility serves as the regional distribution center. The City of Ontario acquired portions of the property for its South Milliken Avenue Grade Separation Project. The City’s initial offer for the taking was $1,325,000. Pursuant to the owner’s request, the City modified the scope of the taking to mitigate on-site impacts. The case settled shortly before trial for $4,500,000. 

Caltrans v. Javad N. Sani, M.D., & Parvin Nahvi, M.D. — Represented owners of three ocean and pastoral-view parcels totaling 13.47 acres off Highway 1 in San Simeon. Caltrans sought to condemn portions of two of the three parcels for its State Route 1 Realignment Project. Caltrans initially offered $2,073,800. Caltrans ultimately agreed to pay $6,440,000 for full takes of two of the parcels.

City of Anaheim v. Etchandy — Represented owners of a multi-tenant commercial/retail property at the southeast corner of East La Palma Avenue and North Tustin Avenue - - in an eminent domain action brought by the City of Anaheim. The City sought to condemn a portion of the property for the Tustin/La Palms Roadway Improvement Project. The City first offered $989,210, and later valued the total compensation for the part take at $729,126, and an additional $386,000 for temporary severance damages. The City agreed to pay $2.2 million as just compensation for the partial takings. 

City of Lake Forest v. Alexander S. Rados, Trustee — Represented the landowner in an eminent domain action brought by the City of Lake Forest. The City condemned a little over 13 acres for a new sports park. The City valued just compensation for the expert exchange at $6.665 million. The case settled for $15.4 million.

Caltrans v. ARAMARK Uniform & Career Apparel, LLC — Represented ARAMARK in an action brought by Caltrans to acquire one of ARAMARK's key market centers for the I-215 widening project. Caltrans' initial offer was $1,881,000. The case settled prior to trial for $4,500,000.

City of Victorville v. First Assembly of God of Victorville, et al., — Represented the church in an eminent domain action brought by the City to acquire property for its Nisqualli Interchange Project. The property taken included the primary driveway that provided access to the Church along with the front line of parking spaces. The City’s appraiser valued the taking at $436,000. The case settled with the City agreeing to pay $2.5 million, together with land use entitlements for new electronic reader boards, counseling center, baseball field improvements and parking.

Fresno Unified School District v. International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, et al. - Represented the denomination and a local Fresno congregation and its Pastor against the District. The District sought to condemn the property for a new elementary school. The District initially offered $410,000. The case settled for total just compensation of $1,350,000.

Orange County Transportation Authority v. Cinnamon Tree Homeowners’ Association – Represented a homeowners association in an action brought by the OCTA. The OCTA’s pre-litigation offer was $525,000. The case settled before trial for $1,100,000.

Representative Matters – Public Agency Focus

County of Riverside — Assist the County with right of way acquisition necessary for infrastructure improvements. Provide counsel and assist the Facilities Management Department with the condemnation required to develop county facilities.

Orange County Flood Control District — Provide special eminent domain counsel to the District to assist in acquiring property for the Santa Ana River Mainstem/Prado Dam Project. 

Los Angeles Unified School District — Represented LAUSD in complex eminent domain matters, including claims involving “grandfathered” emissions permits and emissions restrictions for manufacturing facilities located adjacent to a new high school. Mr. Grabske assisted LAUSD in resolving claims in excess of $80 million on terms favorable for LAUSD.

Superior Coating v. Los Angeles Unified School District — Represented LAUSD in an action brought by a business alleging inverse condemnation, trespass, nuisance, violation of civil rights, and other claims with a multi-million dollar claim for damages prayer for relief. Mr. Grabske was successful in having the court dismiss the case at the pleading stage. He also handled the briefing and oral argument on the landowner’s appeal. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s dismissal in favor of the District. Appellate Decision: Superior Coatings v. Los Angeles Unified School District, et al, (2012) WL 3608621 [nonpub. opn.].

Land Use Matters

Mr. Grabske provides advice to his clients on a wide range of land use litigation and entitlement matters including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Recent matters include:

Creed-21 v. City of Moreno Valley (Aldi, Inc.); CUMV v. City of Moreno Valley — Representation and defense of the City of Moreno Valley and Aldi, Inc. in two CEQA actions challenging the City of Moreno Valley’s approval of Aldi’s 800,000 SF refrigerated warehouse and distribution center. Aldi, Inc. is a world-wide grocery chain and the project will serve as its southwestern regional headquarters and distribution center for 150 new grocery stores. The project involves approvals including an amended Plot Plan and Addendum to the previously approved Westridge Commerce Center EIR. 

Ganahl Lumber Company v. City of Corona (Watermarke Properties) — Representation of Ganahl Lumber Company challenging the City of Corona’s approval of a large-scale commercial and residential project adjacent to Ganahl’s property. Ganahl contends the City failed to, among other things, properly investigate and mitigate the project’s impacts on traffic and circulation. Ganahl contends the project will negatively impact access and visibility to its lumber business. The case settled with the City and Real Party In Interest agreeing to approve significant mitigation measures and easements in favor of Ganahl.

John Boyd Designs, Inc. v. Los Angeles County Unified School District — Representation and defense of the Los Angeles Unified School District (“LAUSD”) against a CEQA action challenging its South Region High School District No. 12. The matter was dismissed by petitioners following a demurrer filed by LAUSD.

Appellate Experience

Residents Against Specific Plan 380 v. County of Riverside, (2017) E063292, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division 2

Creed – 21 v. City of Moreno Valley (2016) WL7387287 [non pub. Opn.], Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division 2, California.

Superior Coatings v. Los Angeles Unified School District, et al. (2012) WL 3608621 [nonpub. opn.], Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 3, California.

William Berryman v. Merit Property Management, Inc., (2007) 152 Cal. App. 4th 1544; 62 Cal. Rptr. 3d 177.

Industry and Legislative Experience

United States Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC

• Representative, Congressional and Public Affairs
• Treasurer, U.S. Chamber Political Action Committee (PAC)

U.S. Senator John S. McCain, Washington, DC

• Legislative Intern — U.S. Senate Commerce Committee

The Scowcroft Group, Washington, DC

The Forum for International Policy, Washington, DC