Opinion ID: 1964920
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Documents 1, 7, and 8

Text: [¶ 20] Documents 1, 7, and 8 are communications from Department officials to its chief counsel regarding possible eminent domain proceedings. They were drafted after Guilford orally agreed to abandon the Lower Lewiston Road, and each document was created in anticipation of future eminent domain litigation. Indeed, they were created for the purpose of determining whether eminent domain proceedings could be brought at all. [6] [¶ 21] When the Department sought advice regarding whether or not the law allowed it to bring an eminent domain proceeding against Guilford, it adequately identified the prospect that litigation would be necessary to restore rail service to the Lewiston Lower Road. That it hoped that legal action would not be necessary does nothing to alter the fact that the Department's belief in the necessity of a legal solution was strong enough to submit the idea to outside counsel. [¶ 22] Moreover, the Department's anticipation of litigation was reasonable. The key factor to consider in making that analysis is the lack of any binding written agreement for the sale of Guilford's interest in the Lewiston Lower Road. While Guilford orally agreed to abandon the line and to negotiate with the Department, it was in no way bound to do so. Consequently, it was reasonable for the Department to expect that the negotiations would be unsuccessful and that it would likely be forced to resort to any eminent domain power it might have in order to acquire the property. Because the Department prepared documents 1, 7, and 8 in reasonable anticipation of litigation, we conclude that those documents are protected from disclosure by the work product doctrine.