First Admitted: 2002, Texas

Professional Webpage: https://mehlaw.com/attorneys/justin-hodge/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Houston Bar Association

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

In a recent jury trial in Bell County, Texas, represented owners of an industrial property against a taking by the State of Texas. The taking was to widen IH-35, which impacted not only the part taken, but also the landowners ’remaining property. The State’s taking caused safety issues related to forklifts, delivery trucks, semi-trucks, and retail customers. The jury rejected the State’s argument and awarded the exact amount of just compensation testified to by the landowner’s expert appraiser, Josh Korman. The case is currently on appeal., 2018
In a jury trial in Bell County, Texas, represented a property owner against a taking by the State of Texas. The taking was to widen IH-35 and build a large rest stop, which impacted not only the surface but also the landowner’s water wells. The jury awarded $5.8 million as total just compensation, with a net to the client of over $3 million after fees and expenses., 2009
In a jury trial in Johnson County, Texas, represented a property owner against a taking by Peregrine Pipeline Company. The taking was an approximately 2.9445 easement out of an approximate 400.836 acre tract of land with previous multiple pipeline easements and an oil and gas lease. The pipeline company offered $79,979 as just compensation, but the jury awarded over $1.6 million as just compensation, including damages., 2015
Represented a landowner in a jury trial in Conroe, Texas against a taking by a local governmental authority. The taking involved issues related to the impact of a high-pressure gas pipeline on property and detention requirements by condemning authority, and Mr. Hodge’s responsibilities included giving the opening statement and cross-examining a key fact witness., 2008

Pro bono/Community Service:

American Bar Association
Young Lawyer’s Steering Committee (chairing the U.S. Supreme Court Subcommittee from 2007 to 2008)
Christian Legal Society (where he serves of the Board of Directors)

Honors/Awards:

“Rising Star” in eminent domain
Super Lawyer in Eminent Domain by Super Lawyers Magazine

Educational Background:

Texas Tech University, B.S. with Honors, Agriculture and Applied Economics, 1999

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

“Recent Developments in Products, General Liability, and Consumer Law” (coauthor), Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J., Winter 2007
“The Law of Eminent Domain—State of Texas” (coauthor), ABA Section of Litigation—Condemnation Zoning and Land Use Litigation, 2007
“Groundwater Law: The Ancient Rule of Capture and the Modern Accommodation Doctrine,” Texas Bar Journal, Vol. 80, No. 11, December 2017 (co-author).
“Can Communications Between an Accountant and Client Be Privileged? How to Make Use of This Narrow Evidentiary Rule,” Defense Research Institute, Young Lawyers Compendium, 2008
“Conservation or Preservation Easements: Answering Highest and Best Use and Valuation Issues When Dealing With Encumbered Property” (coauthor), ALI-ABA, January 2008
“The Fundamentals of Eminent Domain,” Ector County Bar Association, January 2010
“Expert Challenges in an Eminent Domain Case: Robinson/Daubert Analyses; Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; Project Influence” (coauthor), CLE International, 2010
“Texas Eminent Domain: Practices and Procedures for Energy Infrastructure,” Austin Bar Association, Oil Gas Mineral Law Section, 2012
“Landownership as a Keystone Right: Five Issues in Condemnation for Pipeline Easements,” Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute and Fundamentals Conference, University of Texas Law CLE, 2013
“Property Damages: Valuing Property Rights in Condemnation, Groundwater, and Oil-and-Gas Disputes,” (co-author), State Bar of Texas, Damages in Civil Litigation, 2014
“Enjoyment and Preservation of Property: The Great and Chief End of Government,” ALI-CLE; The American Law Institute, San Francisco, California, February 2015
“Texas’ Yellow-Brick Road to Acquiring Common-Carrier Status,” (co-author), Real Estate, Condemnation, and Trust Litigation: **previously published via: American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Summer 2015, Vo. 13, No. 2
“Understanding Utility Easements and Rights of Way,” Land and Water Law: Ownership and Access Conference, HalfMoon Education, Inc., December 2016.
Coauthor, Property Damages: Valuing Property Rights in Condemnation, Groundwater, and Oil-and-Gas Disputes, State Bar of Texas, Damages in Civil Litigation, 2014
“Understanding Utility Easements and Rights of Way,” Boundaries and Easements, HalfMoon Education, Inc., June 2018
“Legal Impacts of Hurricane Harvey Ongoing Barker Addicks Takings Litigation Against the Government by Flooded Home and Business Owners,” CLE International’s Houston Eminent Domain Conference, May 2018 (Program Co-Chair)
“Homeowners Flooded by Water Release of Barker-Addicks Dam,” Houston Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, September 2018
University of Texas School of Law, Texas Review of Law and Politics
Speaker and Author, Landownership as a Keystone Right: Five Issues in Condemnation for Pipeline Easements, rnest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute and Fundamentals Conference, University of Texas Law CLE, 2013
Speaker, Texas Eminent Domain: Practices and Procedures for Energy Infrastructure, Austin Bar Association, Oil Gas Mineral Law Section, 2012
Speaker and Author, Expert Challenges in an Eminent Domain Case: Robinson/Daubert Analyses; Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; Project Influence, CLE International Houston Eminent Domain Conference, 2010
Speaker, The Fundamentals of Eminent Domain, Ector County Bar Association, 2010
Coauthor, Conservation or Preservation Easements: Answering Highest and Best Use and Valuation Issues When Dealing With Encumbered Property, American Law Institute-American Bar Association, 2008
Faculty, Enjoyment and Preservation of Property: The Great and Chief End of Government, American Law Institute-CLE, 2015
Presented as faculty at national eminent domain conference in San Diego, California, Faculty, No Holds Barred: Admitting or Excluding The Lowball Offer, American Law Institute-CLE, 2017

Other Outstanding Achievements:

University of Houston - Adjunct Professor of Eminent Domain, 2020

Industry Groups:

Eminent Domain

Justin Allen Hodge