Attorney says he will represent residents contesting eminent domain, cites possible inverse-condemnation claims

An attorney who said he represents residents in the Cleghorn/Anderson Road/Mirror Lake Connector area told the Villarrica council on Sept. 9 that his clients felt “sorely underrepresented” and asked for transparency if the city pursues eminent domain or other actions that affect their properties.
Mike Cummings, who described himself as an attorney with 29 years’ experience in eminent-domain and constitutional matters, said he has spoken with “16 or 18 people” and visited parcels his clients are concerned about. “If you do exercise your power of eminent domain, that it's done properly and fairly and that these people get just compensation,” Cummings said, adding that he will “be immediately sending out demand letters and follow that up with lawsuits for inverse condemnation if I do determine that there's been damage to people's land without payment.”
Cummings asked for “utmost transparency” and said he will represent the residents “and I will give you a list of the person so that you'll know exactly what parcel and then what address.” The mayor responded that staff would connect him with the city attorney for follow up.
Council did not take formal action during the public-comment portion; the mayor instructed staff to connect Cummings with the city attorney to facilitate information-sharing and potential negotiation or litigation steps outside the public meeting.