Owners' Counsel of America Welcomes New Attorneys from Nebraska and South Carolina as Members

Doug Ruge, The New Nebraska member of Owners' Counsel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., February 19, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - The Owners' Counsel of America (OCA), a national network of eminent domain attorneys dedicated to defending property owners, has officially welcomed Doug Ruge and Jeff Tibbals as its newest members. Ruge, based in Omaha, Nebraska, operates his own law firm, while Tibbals is a co-founder of Bybee & Tibbals in the Charleston area, South Carolina.

Jeff Tibbals, The New South Carolina member of Owners' Counsel

Both Ruge and Tibbals bring a wealth of trial experience, particularly in cases involving the government's acquisition of private property through eminent domain, also known as condemnation. This process often involves the challenge of determining just compensation for property owners, a constitutional guarantee. The new OCA members are recognized for their expertise not only in eminent domain cases but also in broader real estate, land use, and commercial litigation.

OCA's Executive Director, Heather Cunningham, expressed enthusiasm about the new additions, stating, "We are thrilled to have such experienced lawyers join our ranks. Nebraska and South Carolina are both states where our previous OCA members recently retired, and it is important to ensure that lawyers that measure up to our organization’s high standards of excellence, experience, and dedication to the representation of private property owners take their place so that owners will continue to have access to highly qualified advocates."

The selection process for OCA membership is notably stringent, focusing on the candidate's experience with eminent domain cases and their commitment to representing property owners. The organization emphasizes the importance of having a single representative per state, chosen from a competitive pool of candidates based on their legal acumen and dedication to property rights.

Cunningham further elaborated on the criteria for selection, "We aim to find the leading lawyers in each state. Not merely those with the experience and knowledge to handle complex eminent domain and related matters, but also those who have a true passion for representing private property owners in takings cases involving all types of property, and against powerful condemning authorities."

Source: Owners' Counsel of America, Inc. via Newswire