Bio of Steve Belzer
My career as a lawyer spans nearly 40 years , 30 of which have been in civil litigation practice. For the most recent 20 plus years, I have been representing clients in litigation of real property cases. Eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases are my specialty, but I also represent land owners in boundary disputes, disputes over easements, real estate purchase and sale issues, and other legal matters relating to real property. Land law is my business.
I am an expert in eminent domain and inverse condemnation, having handled well over 300 cases for private property owners and governmental agencies. Some of our representative clients are listed elsewhere in our website. The types of properties involved in our cases range from vacant agricultural parcels to urban land developed with residential, commercial, or industrial uses. I have represented clients who have operated hotel properties, retail commercial businesses, shopping centers, material suppliers and office uses, to name a few. I have tried more than 20 cases to jury verdict and have prepared dozens more most having settled just prior to or during trial. My peers have given me the highest, AV rating in the Martindale-Hubbell directory, for legal ability and integrity.
In addition to litigation, I have counseled clients and advised them in real estate transactions, the land use entitlement process, environmental law issues under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and other regulatory processes. I have also frequently been retained as a private mediator to help in the resolution of real property and other legal disputes.
The judges of the Sacramento County Superior Court recognized me with great distinction upon completion of almost eight years as their Chief Research Attorney. I became an expert in civil procedure. Since my years working for the Superior Court, I have continued to remain connected to the judicial branch by volunteering to conduct settlement conferences and dispute resolution sessions for some of the Superior Courts in and around Sacramento, and early neutral evaluations for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.
My formal legal education was completed in 1970 when I graduated from King Hall, the School of Law at University of California, Davis as a member of its second graduating class. Since then I have participated as both a student and as a panel instructor in numerous continuing legal education seminars on eminent domain, real property litigation and trial practice topics.
My leisure time is spent enjoying travel with my wife of more than 40 years, golfing, woodworking, reading and solving word puzzles. We have one adult daughter who is a talented graphic artist living and pursuing her career on the East Coast.