Furlong v. United States

Rails-to-Trails; Class Action; RCFC 23(e); Preliminary Approval of Settlement; Notice Plan; Fairness Hearing

OPINION AND ORDER

MARGARET M. SWEENEY, Judge

In this Rails-to-Trails action, 271 plaintiffs contend that they own real property adjacent to a 9.14-mile rail corridor in Albany County, New York. They assert that until July 8, 2003, the Delaware and Hudson Railway Company, Inc., d/b/a Canadian Pacific Railway Company, and its predecessors held easements for railroad purposes that crossed their land. According to plaintiffs, defendant United States authorized the conversion of the railroad…