10/01/2008
CONTACT: Todd Pack, 615-872-5897
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Joy Ford, owner of a small country music publishing business in Nashville, Tenn., has won her long-fought eminent domain battle to save her business property from the Nashville Metropolitan Development & Housing Authority.
Yesterday, Sept. 30, Ford reached an agreement with the Lionstone Group, owner of property adjacent to Ford's, that will allow her to keep her business property located on Nashville's Music Row and acquire additional property adjacent to her business.
In June, MDHA tried to get a court to grant the city authority to condemn and acquire Ford's property so that the city could transfer Ford's property to Lionstone, a private Houston-based real estate developer. The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, supported Ford, an NFIB member, in her efforts to challenge the city's eminent domain claim against her property.
NFIB joined the Institute for Justice and others in offering vigorous opposition in this outrageous case. NFIB/Tennessee's Leadership Council, comprised of 22 small business leaders, overwhelmingly showed support for Ford, urging immediate action on her behalf.
NFIB's Small Business Legal Center in Washington, D.C., also worked with Ford's lawyer to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Ford's right to keep her property.
"This is a great win for Joy Ford and all small business owners. The outcome proves that property owners can fight back against government attempts to acquire private property through eminent domain," said Jim Brown, state director of NFIB/Tennessee, the state's leading small business association.
"NFIB will not stand idle to the expanding reach of government. Tennessee and small business will continue to deliver an emphatic 'no' to elected officials who believe the seizure of property for private use and intimidation of small business owners is acceptable. We're delighted for NFIB member Joy Ford and thank all parties who came to her defense, including the Institute for Justice."
