Attorney Bios 

James Thompson is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers (restricted to the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States). He concentrates his practice in eminent domain and real estate valuation litigation, including ad valorem tax appeals. He has headed his firm’s litigation department for over 25 years and has taught trial advocacy. He is a regular lecturer in national eminent domain litigation seminars conducted by ALI-ABA, as well as in the State of Maryland where he frequently lectures in CLE activities for lawyers, appraisers and right-of-way agents.1 In addition, he has authored a variety of articles involving eminent domain and has worked with the Maryland legislature to reform eminent domain laws and protect the rights of property owners. Recently, he was named a winner of the Leadership in Law Award for 2006 by the Daily Record and was listed by Super Lawyers magazine in 2007 as one of the top 5% of Maryland litigation attorneys. www.SuperLawyers.com.

EXPERIENCE
Currently, Mr. Thompson heads the Litigation Department of the firm. In addition to eminent domain, that practice includes all types of trial work, including complex business litigation, equitable actions, torts, and bank litigation. Additional areas of concentration include ad valorem tax, tax assessments, and tax appeals. He also consults on corporate and business matters and has worked as general counsel to several corporations. He is a Principal and shareholder in the firm since 1972. Some of the notable cases he has tried span thirty years, including several cases of first impression:

• Mayor and City Council v. George Valsamaki, Sept. Term 2006, Md. Court of Appeals, Case No. 00055 (Feb. 8, 2007). John Murphy and Mr. Thompson represented George Valsamaki in his successful challenge to the quick-take condemnation of the Magnet Bar at 1924 North Charles Street in Baltimore City for urban renewal / economic development. This was the first successful taking challenge to a Baltimore City condemnation in history.
• Ort Trust IV vs. Supervisor of Assessments, 294 Md. 195 (1982), a case of first impression in Maryland in the field of real estate tax assessments whereby he forced the assessor to consider an unfavorable long-term lease in determining a property’s fair market value.
• IRS vs. Browning in the United States Tax Court (109 Tax Ct. 303 1997), which required the IRS to permit charitable tax deductions in connection with the donation of agricultural land preservation easements in Howard County at full fair market value.

EDUCATION
Mr. Thompson is a graduate of Yale University (B.A., 1963), and the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1966).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Mr. Thompson has served the legal profession as President of the Maryland State Bar Association (1999-2000), he has been recognized for his excellence by receiving the Century of Service Award (recognizing the 32 most outstanding judges and lawyers in Montgomery County, Maryland during the 20th Century) and the Peter D. Drito Endowment Award (recognizing his role in the successful effort to establish a Southern Division of the Federal Court in Maryland). He, Joseph Suntum and the litigation department of Miller, Miller & Canby stand committed to obtaining just compensation for property owners in Maryland in condemnation and inverse condemnation cases.

1. In connection with the ALI-ABA National Courses on Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation, he and Joseph P. Suntum have given these seminars and written materials: “Discovery and Practice Techniques That Work in Condemnation Cases,” (2005);“Compensation For Loss of Visibility To and View From the Owners Property,” (2006); “The Condemnation Landscape Across the Country Post Kelo – A Maryland Perspective,” (2007); and Condemnation of the Whole. Why a Full Taking Involves Unique Considerations that Condemnors Often Overlook,” (2007).

In seminars in Maryland with Lorman Education Services, he has delivered seminars and papers on these topics: “How Do the Kelo Case and Post-Kelo Developments Impact Your Case,” (2007); “Pre-Condemnation Planning,” (2006); and “Preparing Your Condemnation Case: How to Obtain More Than the Condemnor’s Offer,” (2007).