Pfizer pullout from Connecticut city puzzles those who lost key eminent domain case

Associated Press

Last update: November 13, 2009 - 2:50 PM

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Now that drug giant Pfizer Inc. has announced plans to pull out of a Connecticut city that was embroiled in an epic eminent domain fight, residents are questioning why the battle was ever waged.

The company said this week that it plans to close its research and development site in New London and move about 1,500 jobs to its Groton campus.

New London officials had sought a city parcel for a private development to complement a new Pfizer research facility. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against homeowners in a 2005 eminent domain decision.

Pfizer said that it had no stake in the court case and that eminent domain played no part in the development of its building.

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