Landowners In Pipeline Path To Receive Settlement

A central Illinois judge has decided that a handful of landowners with property in the path of a planned oil pipeline will receive up to $30,000 each.

But the decision means the landowners won't get the jury trial they sought.  

According to The Pantagraph in Bloomington, Judge Paul Lawrence awarded the money after pipeline-builder Enbridge Inc. asked the judge to make the decision rather than send the case to a jury. The judge had already ruled landowners and experts could not testify in the trial over the easements.  

Tom Pliura is the attorney for the landowners and says they will appeal.  

Another trial is set for Oct. 5 on more easements needed for the 167-mile pipeline that will run from central to southern Illinois.