Case Name: New Orleans Pacific Railway Co. vs. George M. Murrell
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1882-04
Citations: 34 La. 536
Docket Number: No. 8554
Parties: New Orleans Pacific Railway Co. vs. George M. Murrell.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 34
Pages: 536–537

Head Matter:
No. 8554.
New Orleans Pacific Railway Co. vs. George M. Murrell.
a proceeding of expropriation for the construction of a railroad, the jury of freeholders cannot, by their verdict, instead of assessing the money value of the property and damages, require the Railroad Company to do certain work for the benefit of the party who if* to be expropriated.
APPEAL from the Twenty-third Judicial District Court, Parish of Iberville. Oole, J.
Kennard, Howe & Prentiss and ktam'l Matthews, for Plaintiff and Appellant:
1. In an expropriation suit, the jury must find a verdict in money for the value of the land and such damage as defendant may sustain. It cannot contain conditions. C. C. Arts. 2630,2031,2632. Mills on Eminent Domain, Section 112, and authorities cited; Section 258, and authorities cited.
2. The value of the land in fee must he paid in money. Value of right of way can he offset.
3. The appellate court having the several cases before it. if they set aside the verdict, should v render such judgment as should have been given by the jury and court below. C. C. 2634.
4. Testimony of experts (engineers) as to draining should prevail.
5. Only actual damages to he allowed; nothing for probable damages “in futuro.”
Barrow & Pope, for Defendant, and Appellant:
1. In an expropriation suit, the jury must find a verdict in money for value of the land and such damages as defendant may sustain. It cannot contain conditions. C. C. Arts. 2630, 2631, 2632. Mills on Eminent Domain, Section 112, and authorities cited; Section 258, and authorities cited.’
2. The value of the land, whether the fee or only a servitude of way he awarded, must be paid. Art. 2633. No benefits can he compensated against this price. 10 An. 151; Const. 1859, Art. 156.
3. Where a railroad only desires land to lay their tract, a servitude of the right of way is all the estate necessary for the public use and all that can be taken. 32 An. 475; II An. 93 ; Const. 1879, Art. 155; C. C. 722, 490, 491, 492, 505; 55 Pa. St. 16; 29 Mo. 141; C. C. 509; 32 An. 68; C. C. 777, 2634; C. P. 690 ; C. C. 2626, 2630, 2640; Field on Corp. 496.
4? The appellate court having the whole case before it, if they set aside the verdict, should ' render such judgment as should have been given by the jury and court below. C. C. 2634.
5. When both plaintiff and defendant appeal in an expropriation suit, where plaintiff has made no previous tender to defendant, the costs of both courts must be paid by plaintiff, however the case may be decided. C. C. 2638 ; 31 An. 434.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Fenner, J.
This is a proceeding for expropriation of five 14-100 acres of land on defendant's plantation, required for the construction of the plaintiff's railroad, and for the assessment of the value thereof, and of the damages which defendant may suffer in consequence of said "expropriation.
The jury of freeholders found a verdict, by which, instead of assessing the money value of the property and damages, the5r required the plaintiff to do certain work in lieu thereof.
Both parties have appealed.
The verdict of the jury is clearly erroneous. Their function is confined to the assessment of value of property, and of damages, in money.
The legal principles involved are very simple.
1. The value of the property must he assessed on the basis of its value " before tlie contemplated work was proposed, and without deducting therefrom any amount for benefit derived by the owner from the work." C. C. 2633.
The same rule would apply to any estate, less than the fee, which might he expropriated. We find no reason or authority for making a difference.
2. They must assess the damages which the owner will sustain, in consequence of the work, in addition to the value of the property taken.
The defendant has the right to have this assessment made according to the best attainable data, and cannot be required to have his right held in abeyance until the damage is actually suffered. Such is the clear effect of Art. 156 of the present Constitution.
But the advantages which the owner would derive from the work may be offset against these damages, the damage suffered being only the excess of injury over benefit.
It would he proper for the jury to itemize in their verdict all the elements of damages allowed.
. Both parties appeal to us to render the verdict which the jury should have done.
We might be authorized to do this; but, after reading the evidence, we do not feel that we could settle the damages with any confidence in the justice of our determination, and we must decline to do so.
They are matters peculiarly within the province of a jury of freeholders, and, without the aid of the prior determination of such a jury, as contemplated by law, we do not feel disposed to undertake the task.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that tlie verdict and judgment appealed from, be annulled, avoided and reversed, and that this cause be remanded for further proceedings according to law; costs of this appeal to he divided between the parties,