Appellate court says it lacks jurisdiction in Grenga property dispute

Joseph Grenga

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Joseph Grenga and his building at 128 W. Rayen, Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — Saying it lacks jurisdiction, the 7th District Court of Appeals has lifted its temporary stay of the city’s seizure and demolition of the Grenga Machine and Welding Co. storage facility.

“An owner does not have the right to immediately appeal a decision where the appropriation is taken for the purpose of making or repairing roads. Rather, the owner must wait until the compensation order has been issued,” the appeals judges wrote in a unanimous decision rendered shortly after a hearing today on the matter.

The judges, Joseph J. Vukovich, Cheryl L. Waite and Mary DeGenaro, were referring to the amount of Grenga’s compensation for his building, a matter on which Grenga has a right to a jury trial.

Grenga sought the stay, which the appeals court granted on a temporary basis Friday, when he appealed the writ of possession granted to the city by Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. The appellate panel also dismissed Grenga’s appeal.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com