CONTACT

Tel: (805) 962-0011, ext. 124
Fax: (805) 965-3978
taa@ppplaw.com

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Public Agency
Eminent Domain
Litigation

EXPERIENCE

Mr. Amspoker’s practice involves public agency and real estate matters, focusing on eminent domain and real estate litigation, natural resources litigation including CEQA and water rights issues, and land use matters.

Mr. Amspoker has represented major public agencies throughout the State of California, and has substantial experience with acquiring properties for virtually all types of public projects, including major mass transit projects, freeway and road projects, water projects, utility projects, school projects and park projects. He has also represented many private property owners in eminent domain proceedings throughout the state. His last two trials for property owners resulted in jury verdicts decisively in his clients’ favor, including a recent trial in the San Joaquin Valley in which he recovered a $1.96 million jury verdict in the exact amount of the appraisal opinions presented by Mr. Amspoker at trial.

Mr. Amspoker also has a broad practice in natural resources litigation, including CEQA and water rights matters. He also has significant experience with land use permitting and real estate litigation including easement and boundary disputes, and property tax appeals. He also drafts agreements for public agency and private clients, including sale agreements, easement agreements and other types of agreements involving real property and water rights.

Mr. Amspoker has conducted a substantial number of jury trials in his legal career. His trial practice has taken him to all areas of the state, including the Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, and Southern California.

Mr. Amspoker has written and spoken extensively with respect to eminent domain and public agency law subjects. He is a member of the International Right of Way Association and in 2001 served as President of the Association’s Chapter 47. He is an author of several chapters included in the International Right of Way Association’s textbook, Principles of Right of Way (2012 edition).

EDUCATION

  • ​University of California at Irvine (B.A., cum laude, 1980)
  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J. D., 1983)

ADMISSIONS

  • California

MEMBERSHIP

  • The State Bar of California (Litigation and Public Law Sections)
  • Santa Barbara County Bar Association
  • International Right of Way Association (President, Chapter 47, 2001)

REPORTED CASES

  • Sanders v. East Bay Mun. Utility Dist. (1993) 16 Cal. App. 4th 125
  • Baugh v. Garl (2006) 137 Cal. App. 4th 737
  • Golden Gate Land Holdings v. East Bay Regional Park District (2013) 215 Cal. App. 4th 353