EDWARDSVILLE, IL (March 26, 2026) —
Flint Cooper is proud to announce that attorneys Adam Riley and Lauren Martin of the firm’s Government Takings practice have secured a $3 million settlement on behalf of landowners affected by the Great Redwood Trail project in Northern California. This result marks the firm’s second successful settlement involving this trail, and notably, Flint Cooper is the first and only firm to secure settlements for clients along the Great Redwood Trail to date, totaling nearly $3.5 million.
The settlement stems from claims brought on behalf of property owners in Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties, where a former railway corridor is being converted into a multi-use public trail. Under the Fifth Amendment, landowners may be entitled to just compensation when government action results in the taking of private property for public use. Flint Cooper has been at the forefront of ensuring those rights are upheld.
“This result reflects our commitment to protecting landowners and holding the government accountable when private property is taken without just compensation,” said Adam Riley, Partner at Flint Cooper. “We’re proud to be leading the way on the Great Redwood Trail and to have delivered meaningful recovery for our clients where no other firm has yet done so.”
Flint Cooper’s Government Takings team has extensive experience litigating complex property rights cases in the United States Court of Federal Claims. By combining deep legal knowledge with a strategic, client-first approach, the firm continues to secure significant outcomes for landowners impacted by trail conversions nationwide.
“Securing this settlement is an important step forward not only for our clients, but for other landowners along this trail who may not yet realize they have a valid claim,” added Lauren Martin, Attorney at Flint Cooper. “We look forward to continuing our work in the region and helping more property owners understand and protect their rights.”
Flint Cooper attorneys will be traveling to Humboldt County, California, to host a series of informational town hall meetings for local landowners impacted by the Great Redwood Trail. These meetings will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about their potential right to compensation, the legal process involved in pursuing a claim and what to expect moving forward. Each session will be free and open to the public, with time allotted for individual questions and discussion.
Meeting Details:
April 15, 2026
9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:30 PM
River Lodge Conference Center
1800 Riverwalk Drive
Fortuna, CA 95540
April 16, 2026
9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:30 PM
Holiday Inn & Suites Eureka
815 W Wabash Ave
Eureka, CA 95501
The Great Redwood Trail is a proposed 320-mile multi-use trail system which would stretch from the San Francisco Bay area to Humboldt County. A 169.61-mile stretch from Willits to Eureka is among the sections that has been railbanked and converted to recreational trail use, potentially impacting hundreds of adjacent landowners who may be entitled to compensation.
For more information about Flint Cooper, visit www.flintcooper.com.
ABOUT FLINT COOPER
Flint Cooper (FlintCooper.com) is a preeminent litigation firm managing a diverse portfolio of multibillion-dollar cases. Co-led by founding members Ethan Flint and Jeff Cooper, both world-renowned for their accomplishments litigating asbestos-related cases and Fifth Amendment federal takings cases, Flint Cooper boasts a national presence and the ability to file lawsuits and try cases anywhere. With offices in Edwardsville and Chicago, Illinois, Paducah, Kentucky, and Dallas, Texas, Flint Cooper handles catastrophic personal injury and product liability cases, litigates cases involving terminal illnesses, and currently represents the largest contingent of plaintiffs with claims against the federal government than any single firm in the country.
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Media Contact
Jenny Kreke
Jenny@FlintCooper.com
