Firm History & Profile

 

                                                                         
Alan T. Ackerman         Irving B. Ackerman         Darius W. Dynkowski          

The story of Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski is one of family, fairness and fierce advocacy. Most importantly, however, it is about tireless and passionate dedication to protecting the rights of property owners and business clients faced with eminent domain and condemnation proceedings; a dedication that has spanned two generations and firmly established Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski as one of the foremost eminent domain law firms in not only Detroit and the state of Michigan, but across the nation.

 

The fact that Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski would one day become one of the nation’s most respected and experienced condemnation and eminent domain law firms may have seemed unlikely to firm founder Irving Ackerman when he started the firm nearly three quarters of a century ago. But it was Irving Ackerman’s groundbreaking work that set an impressive precedent that still resonates today. Irving’s determination to find new ways for property and business owners to obtain fair compensation for their property has had a lasting impact on the lives of his clients and on the law itself; in many ways, his formative efforts helped to formally establish the legal specialty of condemnation law. The firm has been involved in some of the industry’s most influential cases and court decisions; some of which are still being cited today. Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski was an enthusiastic advocate for Michigan’s Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act, passed in April of 1980, which codified and consolidated what was once a whole host of complex condemnation procedures into a consistent and comprehensible legislative process that is still being used today.

 

After Irving retired from full-time practice in 1979, his son Alan took control of the firm, and assumed responsibility for a legacy that is perhaps more important than any legislative influence or courtroom accomplishment: Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski’s reputation for displaying a depth of understanding that goes beyond statutes and property values. The firm has consistently demonstrated a keen understanding of the human dimensions behind this complex area of the law. It prides itself on a singular and impressive distinction: the firm’s unique status as one of the only law firms in the nation that exclusively represents property owners, never condemning authorities. The firm has helped hundreds of clients, large and small, urban and rural, collect hundreds of millions of dollars in fair compensation from settlements, mediation and jury verdicts, representing those clients in State and Federal Courts and routinely securing fair compensation that often dramatically exceeds the government’s original offer.

 

Experts in valuations, just compensation, and total and partial takings, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski is a nationally recognized condemnation and eminent domain law firm that has represented countless clients who have been impacted by many of the city of Detroit’s and state of Michigan’s well-known public works projects and large-scale developments. The firm frequently partners with local law firms in jurisdictions around the country, and out-of-state attorneys and other professionals routinely call upon Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski to consult with its team.

 

As Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski sets it sights toward the future, the firm is both justifiably proud of its past accomplishments and excited and enthusiastic about the challenges that await in the years ahead. At a time when populations continue to grow and infrastructure requires aggressive development, the firm is eagerly positioned to protect landowners affected by road and highway expansions, gas storage and utility acquisitions, pipeline replacement and construction, and power line additions, as well as airport and transportation facility growth.

 

As a persistent and respected adversary of government legal departments across the United States, the firm looks forward to leveraging its in-depth understanding of condemnation proceedings to continue to represent business and property owners faced with property seizure or condemnation. Founded with integrity, competency and tenacity at its core, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski’s defining work on behalf of individuals and businesses has left a lasting impact on the industry and continues to exert a profound influence on broader issues, such as the value of land under condemnation and the obligations and responsibilities of the government toward businesses and private citizens. An independent firm with the resources to make necessary capital and personnel investments, and the experience and expertise needed to aggressively and successfully fight for the property rights of individuals, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski is a family firm that has evolved into something special. Faced with a future where public transportation needs, electric and utility grid expansion, and petroleum and natural gas storage and supply infrastructure will continue to emerge as hot-button issues, Ackerman Ackerman & Dynkowski is positioned right where they have always been: at the forefront of the field of condemnation and eminent domain law.