U. of Wisconsin at Madison Forges Agreement in Bar Owners’ Eminent-Domain Challenge

The University of Wisconsin at Madison and the owners of a popular bar near the campus have worked out an agreement a day before an eminent-domain lawsuit was set to go to trial. Marc and Eric Fortney, the owners of Brothers Bar & Grill, decided to accept the university’s offer of $2.1-million to buy their property and drop their lawsuit, according to the Associated Press. The university needs the land to construct a $43-million building for its music school.

The university was set to use eminent domain to acquire the property. According to the Associated Press, the Fortneys did not question the university’s right to use eminent domain; rather, they questioned the viability of the music-school project, arguing that the university had not raised enough money for it and would have trouble raising more because of the economic climate. The university has $20-million pledged to the building.

Prior to settlement, the bar owners characterized their lawsuit as a check on the expansion of the university, because its master plan may require taking other properties around Madison.

The bar owners and the university still have some negotiating to do. The Fortneys say the university should cover the $1.5-million cost of relocating their bar. The university has offered $150,000.