Document: 469 U.S. 24 105 S.Ct. 451 83 L.Ed.2d 376 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.50 ACRES OF LAND, etc., et al. No. 83-1170. Argued Oct. 2, 1984. Decided Dec. 4, Syllabus In connection with a flood control project, the United States filed proceedings in Federal District Court to condemn approximately 50 acres of land owned by respondent city Duncanville, Tex., that had been used as sanitary landfill. The court awarded compensation amount condemned property's fair market value determined jury, rather than larger fixed jury reasonable cost acquiring and developing substitute facility, which was better facility. found no basis for departing from normal standard determining compensation, but Appeals reversed remanded. 1 Held: Fifth Amendment does not require pay public condemnee measured facility has duty acquire, when property is ascertainable there showing manifest injustice. Pp. 29-36. 2 (a) "Just compensation" under normally be at time taking, this case one an exception required because ascertainable. testimony trial established fairly robust landfill properties. Nor award here fundamentally inconsistent basic principles indemnity embodied Just Compensation Clause. 29-31. 3 (b) text mandate more favorable rule condemnees private parties. reference "private property" Takings Clause encompasses state local governments it States, construction same just presumptively apply both condemnees. P. 31. 4 (c) When dictum Brown v. 263 78, 44 92, 68 L.Ed. 171—which source "substitute-facilities doctrine"—is read context decision case, lends support suggestion distinction should drawn between shed any light on proper measure case. merely indicates would have constitutionally permissible Government provide site instead compensating cash. 31-33. 5 (d) city's legal obligation maintain services are interrupted federal condemnation justify purpose measuring "just compensation." risk might receive "windfall" if its were never acquired or later sold converted another use avoided replace If replacement costly presumably valuable, increase quality may readily characterized cash proceeds built. Moreover, substitute-facilities doctrine, applied diverge principle must objective disregards subjective values only significance individual owner. 33-36. 6 706 F.2d 1356 (CA5 1983), reversed. 7 Joshua I. Schwartz, Washington, D.C., petitioner. 8 H. Louis Nichols, Dallas, respondents. 9 Justice STEVENS delivered opinion Court. 10 requires compensation"—normally value1 —WHenever takes use.2 This involves municipality. question whether entitled We hold 11 * 1978, part Texas.3 since 1969 order landfill, 113.7-acre developed into facility.4 proceedings, claimed recover all costs incurred excess $1,276,000. however, contended deposited $199,950 registry estimation due. 12 Before motion limine exclude evidence arguing relevant calculation value. Record, Doc. 62. denied motion, noting left open property. See 564.54 Acres Land, 441 506, 509, n. 3, 99 1854, 1856, 60 435 (1979) (Lutheran Synod). concluded "a complete factual record independent determination appropriate can made." 111. 13 At trial, parties submitted property5 facility.6 Responding special interrogatories, $225,000, $723,624.01. Nos. 199, 200. entered judgment lower plus interest difference sum already paid.7 529 F.Supp. 220 (ND Tex.1981). explained met "burden establishing what facility."8 addition, view "substitute facilities every where establish property, least established." Id., 222. reasoned application necessarily "windfall."9 14 remanded further proceedings. 1983). It loss attributable "the money reasonably spent . create functionally equivalent facility." 1360. required, either matter law practical necessity, old believed windfall. court, held adjusted account qualitative differences site. Finding judge's instructions adequately informed discount increased capacity superior quality, see supra, new trial.10 granted Government's petition certiorari,11 465 1098, 104 1590, 80 122 (1984), we now reverse direct enter based jury's finding II 15 repeatedly taking contemporaneously paid money." Olson 292 246, 255, 54 704, 708, 78 1236 (1934). "Considerations affect excluded." 256, S.Ct., 709. Deviation "when too difficult find, result injustice owner public." Commodities Trading Corp., 339 121, 123, 70 547, 549, 94 707 (1950); Kirby Forest Industries, Inc. 467 1, 10, 14, 2187, 2194, 81 (1984). 16 Such cases, most part, involve properties seldom, ever, market.12 Under those circumstances, "we cannot predict prices previously paid, assuming prior sales, repeated sale property." Lutheran Synod, U.S., 513, 1858. properties, 5, supported expert concerning comparable Cf. 513-514, 1858-1859. 17 contends party entity, possibility exceeds parcel departure measure. 514-517, 1858-1860. expressly reserved Synod case13—is mandated Constitution14 governmental entity III 18 certainly To contrary, language refers property," argue Framers intended greater protection interests That argument observation many power eminent domain, thus, unlike parties, need rely availability facilities. 19 condemns persons served it, taxpayers less acute Therefore, construe encompassing States.15 construction, IV 20 correctly identified 171 (1923), become known doctrine."16 passage Court's 21 facts were, word, "peculiar."17 reservoir Snake River flooded three-quarters town American Falls, Idaho, area some 640 acres. compensate owners acreage, undertook relocate other side river. large tract included within limits reconstructed challenged their contending transfer "public use" Amendment. Hawaii Housing Authority Midkiff, 229, 239-244, 2321, 2328-2331, 186 22 rejecting contention, method legitimate. Writing Court, Chief Taft observed: 23 "The usual ordinary lots town, streets alleys ill adapted exigency. A business center. unit. destroyed appropriating exclusive like reservoir, owners, ousted remaining quarter, well State, whose subordinate agency government municipality, injured. substitution seem best means making whole. necessary such substitution." 82-83, 93-94 (emphasis added). Taken context, apparent endorsement made 3. 25 Nothing implies anything V 26 most, achieves "balance public's claimant's loss." Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Navigation Co., 338 396, 402, 217, 221, 195 (1949). consistent our holding constitutes citizens who expensive substitutes holdings consequential damages arising condemnation.18 27 argues responsibility municipal garbage disposal justifies compelled arrange suitable services.19 compelling obligations assumed citizens. Even though legally obligated taken Government, economic circumstances often force them do so. home condemned, example, find place live. compensation."20 28 Of course, based, fear acquired, use." 516, 1859. suggested avoids risk, F.2d, 1360, agree. valuable,21 29 Appeals, windfall could reduced discounting quality. 1362-1363. approach add uncertainty complexity valuation proceeding without improvement process. implement Appeals' approach, factfinder make two determinations: (i) (rather actual) cost, inquiry second facility; (ii) extent old, analysis old. also determine comparison. There entire added will calculated correctly; moreover, estimated, process nothing roundabout arriving facility.22 30 Finally, diverges As wrote Kimball Laundry Co. 69 1434, 1437, 93 1765 (1949): 31 springs needs attitudes; therefore differ widely taker. Most things, general demand gives transferable another. opposed personal variant standards particular taken, external validity makes his use. view, liability common good, nontransferable deriving unique idiosyncratic attachment due exercise police power, properly treated burden citizenship." 32 elements formula enhance error prejudice.23 Since contest community National thought unlimited resources, open-ended character increases likelihood actually derive concerned Appeals.24 "Particularly true these issues determination, juries given sophistical abstruse formulas findings nor even sensible factors elusive." 20, 1445. 33 34 so ordered. O'CONNOR, whom POWELL joins, concurring. 35 I concur that, Duncanville justly compensated payment Government. write separately note preclude municipality manifestly unjust ante, 29. prove deviates significantly make-whole remedy continue essential service, limiting my unjust. Because did deviated principle, agree Miller, 317 369, 374, 63 276, 280, 87 336 (1943) ("what willing buyer seller"). "[N]or shall use, U.S.Const., Amdt. 5. initiated filing declaration 40 U.S.C. § 258a. procedure deposits estimated court. "Title right possession thereupon vest immediately States. subsequent judicial exact (on date filed) determined, (if any) adjudicated received owner, difference." 2191, acreage soil water table conditions excavated depth. result, 2,100,000 cubic yards while 650,000 yards. expected remain service 41.6 years, 28.8 years longer remained service. Tr. 395-397, 399, 402. Experts agreed existed area. witness, testified solid waste companies own sites. You've got major corporations marketplace securing sites operations then you've your City Governments, they're seeking locations deposit waste. And people looking disposal." 297. Based evaluation recent parcels, experts $367,500 $370,000; $160,410 $190,000. 173, 182, 353. Director Public Works admitted cross-examination powers, bargain over seller's asking price appraised acquisition: "This he asked for, ended up paying it." 93-94. witnesses considerably land. 282, 321, 357. statutory rate six percent, 258a, offered indicating higher prevailed. 220, 223-224 221. Relying WHITE's concurring 518, 1860, Synod), wrote: "When doctrine applied, accrues sufficient ancient depleted brand [441 517, 1860] (Justice WHITE concurring). [United v.] Acres, 576 983, 996-1000 (3d Cir.1978) (Judge Stern By definition, represents purchase similar marketplace." F.Supp., 222 original). "In [the remand trial]," instructed allow opportunity present exceed percent. 1364. disposition rationale hearing issue valid. certiorari challenging entry 1022, 1274, 79 679 respect roads sewers." passed propriety express publicly Congress, authorize constitutional minimum. General Motors 323 373, 382, 65 357, 361, 89 311 (1945); see, e.g., Uniform Relocation Assistance Real Property Acquisition Policies Act 1970, 84 Stat. 1894, 42 4601 seq. (requiring relocation assistance specified businesses displaced federally assisted programs). Carmack, 329 230, 242, 67 252, 257, 91 209 (1946): "[W]hen independently controlled subdivision, recognizes conceded condemned." Block North Dakota ex rel. Board University School Lands, 461 273, 291, 103 1811, 1822, 75 840 (1983). See, Certain Borough Manhattan, 403 800, 803 (CA2 1968); Education Mineral County, 253 760, 763 (CA4 1958). "An important stood way Three-quarters streets, parks buildings, private, abandoned. Falls settlement sparsely settled country miles size direction. natural dam provision near possible one." 81, 93. 361; generally J. Gelin D. Law Eminent Domain 2.4(B) (1982). was, fact, 6, purposes assume solely "any practical, logistical advantages operation landfill." Ibid. "Obviously, replacing itself valuable last longer." 1860 (WHITE, J., Indeed, infer here. nn. supra. "in good position pecuniarily taken." 223. R. Posner, Economic Analysis 402 (2d ed. 1977) ("The vogue cost-benefit created inflated notions effectiveness analytical techniques resolving questions demand"). admissibility reproduction 126, 551, (1950). evaluated applicable rules evidence. E.g., Fed.Rules Evid. 401-403, 701-705.

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