Metro City Exercises Its Power of Eminent Domain to Acquire

Essay

Metro City exercises its power of eminent domain to acquire land for a public project, including part of a public transit rail system and a traffic bypass. Metro City relocates more than 10,000 residents from the land and destroys their homes to begin the project. Nate's Deli is adjacent to the project. Nate's loses most of its business when the residents are moved. Nate's files a suit against Metro City, alleging that its acquisition of the land resulted in a taking of the deli's property interest, entitling it to compensation. What is a taking? What might the deli owner claim is its "property interest" to support this allegation? What is the court likely to rule? Why?