In a recent, heartening verdict, an Oklahoma County jury awarded the Brewer family approximately $2.9 million, marking a significant victory in their prolonged battle against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). This case, handled by Ritchie Rock & Atwood Law Firm, highlights the critical importance of seeking just compensation in eminent domain proceedings and underscores our unwavering commitment to defending our clients' rights. The Heart of the Matter The Brewers' ordeal began in 2018 when they were informed that their home, along with 46 acres of their property, lay in the path o ..read more

Elevating Expertise: Nick Atwood's Election to the Counselors of Real Estate® Organization Ritchie, Rock & Atwood, a leading Oklahoma law firm, proudly announces the election of Partner and Attorney, Nick Atwood, to the esteemed Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE) organization. Mr. Atwood's new affiliation underlines his exceptional expertise in the real estate industry and his continual commitment to providing top-tier legal services to clients across the state. The Counselors of Real Estate, established in 1953, is a global consortium of accomplished real estate professionals who offer e ..read more

OCA Welcomes Kim Ellis Ritchie as Oklahoma's Sole Representative Owners' Counsel of America (OCA), a national organization of eminent domain attorneys, has announced the addition of Kim Ellis Ritchie to its roster. Mr. Ritchie is the owner and founder of Ritchie, Rock & Atwood, and has been selected to join the exclusive group of lawyers who have outstanding experience in representing private property owners in eminent domain cases. Mr. Ritchie practices in the areas of business, agricultural, and real estate law, and has extensive experience in civil litigation. He has tried over 75 ju ..read more

A clash of two bedrock principals of our legal tradition Eminent domain cases are a clash of two bedrock principals of our legal tradition: The sacrosanct right of property owners to own and exercise control over their property and the sovereign state’s power to take private property from an individual for the benefit of the public. The origins of eminent domain date back to the Old Testament of the Bible. King David offered and paid Araunah compensation for his threshing floor to ultimately build an altar to the Lord to stop the plague. In the United States, the concept of eminent domain is ..read more

On March 3rd, City of Norman Ward 5 Councilman Rarchar S. Tortorello held the first public meeting on the new turnpike proposed by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Several impacted property owners asked our firm to attend the meeting. Over 500 people assembled to learn more about the proposed turnpikes and have their questions answered by the representatives from Poe & Associates, who is the Project Manager.  Several more meetings are planned concerning the proposed turnpikes and our firm will be in attendance at these events. Should you have any questions concerning the projects or ..read more

ESTATE PLANNING TIP Our attorneys are frequently asked by their clients how they can leave real estate to another person without doing so in a will or in a trust. In Oklahoma, the answer to this question is frequently to use a “ Transfer On Death Deed ” . A Transfer On Death Deed is a special kind of deed which a person can execute and record in the county land records to leave property to another person, or fractional interests to multiple people, which is only effective on the grantor’s death. Until the property owner dies, the deed can be cancelled or changed by them if he or she changes ..read more

Court rules McGirt ruling doesn't apply retroactively On Thursday, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision (McGirt) was not retroactive. Therefore, past final convictions of Native Americans on Indian reservations are valid. The court said "new rules of criminal procedure generally apply to cases pending on direct appeal when the rule is announced, with no exception for cases where the rule is a clear break with past law”. >> see complete decision issued 8/12/21 in State vs Wallace PR-2021-366 ..read more

On September 10, 2020, the Oklahoma Criminal Appeals Courts issued a ruling in State v Green. In the case, a Mother gave birth to a stillborn son. The decomposing deceased infant was found inside a wooden box that had been placed in a construction dumpster. The medical examiner determined the infant’s manner of death was homicide from methamphetamine toxicity while in the womb. The State alleged that the Mother neglected her unborn child by using illegal drugs while the unborn child was under the age of 18. The Mother argued that the fetus is not defined as a child under the age of 18 b ..read more

On July 9th 2020 the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that Oklahoma did not have jurisdiction to prosecute major crimes involving a Native American within the historical boundaries of the Creek Indian reservation in eastern Oklahoma because Congress failed to formally undo the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s 19th century reservation. Therefore a large part of eastern Oklahoma, including much of Tulsa, falls within an Indian reservation. The question before the high court involved a case brought by Jimcy McGirt, a member of the Seminole Nation , who argued that his case must b ..read more

Information about the current developments in Pottawatomie County related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) is impacting people’s lives everywhere in the world. We will provide current information on the development in Pottawatomie county (Oklahoma). For more general information, please visit the World Health Organisation’s website . We also provide a coronavirus news ticker for Mayes County. Information Join the Shawnee Happy Hour Zoom Bingo Party on Thursdays for some social distance fun here . Pottawatomie County is opening drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic ..read more