United States v. 13.10 Acres of Land in County of Putnam
This case involves a condemnation action brought by the United States against Christina Mattin to acquire 13.1 acres of her land in Putnam County for a buffer zone around the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Mattin moved for summary judgment, arguing a "substantial relocation" of the trail requiring an act of Congress, and that the acquisition was not "reasonably necessary" and made arbitrarily. The Court denied Mattin's motion for summary judgment and granted the plaintiff's cross-motion, ruling that the trail relocation was not substantial based on the Secretary's reasonable interpretation of the National Trails System Act, and that the acquisition was necessary for trail protection and not arbitrary or capricious, and that reasonable efforts for acquisition were made.