Last week an Iowa District Court Judge ruled that the Iowa Utilities Board acted properly in using eminent domain for the Dakota Access Pipeline. Des Moines attorney Bill Hanigan who represents 14 Iowa landowners in the case says he’ll appeal the district court decision to the Iowa Supreme Court.

He says he’ll continue arguing that the Dakota Access Pipeline put in by Energy Transfer Partners, a private company is not doing so for a public use.

Hanigan is optimistic about getting a positive ruling from the State Supreme Court.

Hanigan says Iowa and Federal law protects landowners from eminent domain because Dakota Access is a private, interstate pipeline and not a public utility.