Vera Coking
Encyclopedia
Vera Coking is a retired homeowner in Atlantic City, New Jersey
whose home was the focus of a prominent eminent domain
case involving Donald Trump
.
In 1993, when Donald Trump sought to expand his property holdings around his Atlantic City casino
and hotel
(to build a parking lot
designed for limousine
s), he bought several lots adjacent to his property. Coking, who had lived in her house at that time for about 35 years, refused to sell. This was not the first time Coking had been asked to sell her property for development
. When Coking refused to sell to Trump, the city of Atlantic City condemned
her house, using the power of eminent domain
. Her designated compensation was to be $251,000, about one quarter of what it had been valued ten years earlier.
With the assistance of the Institute for Justice
, Coking fought the local authorities, and eventually prevailed. Superior Court
Judge Richard Williams ruled that, because there were "no limits" on what Trump could do with the property, the plan to take Coking's property did not meet the test of law. But Williams' ruling did not refute the principle of using eminent domain to take private property from one individual and transferring it to another, a principal that would eventually be upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States
in Kelo v. City of New London
.
Trump was not the only one to pursue Coking's property. In 1983, publisher Bob Guccione
had offered Coking $1,000,000 for her property, which she declined.
In 2011, Vera Coking's boarding house was put on the market with an asking price of $5 million.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
whose home was the focus of a prominent eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
case involving Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
.
In 1993, when Donald Trump sought to expand his property holdings around his Atlantic City casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
(to build a parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
designed for limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
s), he bought several lots adjacent to his property. Coking, who had lived in her house at that time for about 35 years, refused to sell. This was not the first time Coking had been asked to sell her property for development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
. When Coking refused to sell to Trump, the city of Atlantic City condemned
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
her house, using the power of eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
. Her designated compensation was to be $251,000, about one quarter of what it had been valued ten years earlier.
With the assistance of the Institute for Justice
Institute for Justice
The Institute for Justice is a 501 non-profit libertarian public interest law firm in the United States. Its mission is to provide pro bono legal advice and representation, litigating strategically to pursue its goal of a rule of law under which individuals can control their destinies as free and...
, Coking fought the local authorities, and eventually prevailed. Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
Judge Richard Williams ruled that, because there were "no limits" on what Trump could do with the property, the plan to take Coking's property did not meet the test of law. But Williams' ruling did not refute the principle of using eminent domain to take private property from one individual and transferring it to another, a principal that would eventually be upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in Kelo v. City of New London
Kelo v. City of New London
Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States involving the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another to further economic development...
.
Trump was not the only one to pursue Coking's property. In 1983, publisher Bob Guccione
Bob Guccione
Bob Guccione was the founder and publisher of the adult magazine Penthouse. He resigned from his publisher position in November 2003.-Early life:...
had offered Coking $1,000,000 for her property, which she declined.
In 2011, Vera Coking's boarding house was put on the market with an asking price of $5 million.