ATLANTA (AP) — It's a fight over land in one of rural Georgia's poorest areas, but it could have implications for property law across the state and nation. A hearing officer will take up to three days of testimony, making a recommendation to the five elected members of the Georgia Public Service Commission, who will ultimately decide. Railroads have long had the power of eminent domain, but Georgia law says such land seizures must be for “public use." “This is not a taking of necessity from private property owners to serve truly public interests and the public as a whole. The case matters because private entities need to condemn private land not only to build railroads, but also to build other facilities such as pipelines and electric transmission lines.

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Persons: —, Donald Garret Sr, won’t, ”, Daniel Kochan, Ben Tarbutton III, Janet Paige Smith, ” Smith Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Public Service Commission, Sandersville Railroad, CSX, Atlanta . People, Heidelberg Materials, Sandersville, Institute for Justice, Railroads, Virginia's George Mason University, Community Coalition, Southern Poverty Law Locations: Georgia's, Georgia, Sparta, Atlanta, New London , Connecticut, Heidelberg