Opinion ID: 1106367
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether Dunklin's use of the airport study was proper.

Text: ¶ 13. Finally, Tunica asserts Dunklin's testimony should have been stricken because he placed value on the property based in part on previous airport studies which had identified the land as a possible site for future airport expansion. Dunklin testified that obtaining fair market value is predicated on a knowledgeable seller dealing with a knowledgeable buyer, and that an informed property owner who knew of the study, and who knew the land was needed for the airport, would not have sold the subject land as farm acreage. Tunica County argues this methodology is improper, relying on Pearl River Valley Water Supply, where this Court held that in eminent domain proceedings, damages are assessed and compensation determined as of the time of taking, but general benefits and injuries resulting from the use to which the land is to be put, and which are shared by the general public, are not to be considered in awarding damages. Pearl River Valley Water Supply Dist., 182 So.2d at 385. ¶ 14. The definition of fair market value is not new to this Court. In numerous cases, we have stated that the fair market value is the amount of money which could be obtained on the open market at a voluntary sale of property; the amount that a purchaser who is willing, but not required to buy, would pay, and the amount that a seller who is willing, but not required to sell, would accept. Bear Creek Water Ass'n, Inc. v. Town of Madison, 416 So.2d 399, 402 (Miss.1982). We also stated in Bear Creek that determining the fair market value necessarily requires that both the purchaser and the seller be fully informed of all circumstances involving the value and use of the property so that an approximation of its present worth might be determined. Id. at 403. ¶ 15. Tunica objected at trial to the relevance of a 1995 study's effect on a 2000 sale of land. Tunica now relies on Pearl River Valley Water Supply and is correct to do so with regard to the rule that the valuation of the land is to be determined at the time of the eminent domain proceedings. However, in Pearl River Valley Water Supply, dealing with the creation of the Ross Barnett Reservoir, we also said that the landowner may show and claim enhancement in value of the land prior to the taking. Pearl River Valley Water Supply Dist., 182 So.2d at 386. The study Dunklin referred to was nothing more than an analysis that, given Tunica County's rapid growth, due in part to the casino industry, a bigger airport was needed, and that the most logical place to put a new airport was where the current one already stood. We cannot conceive of a prospective purchaser of commercial property, in an area being transformed by urban renewal, not inquiring into the zoning restrictions on the property, the plans for streets and alleyways, the lot frontage on such streets, etc., so that he might determine its suitability for his purpose. Paulk v. Housing Authority of City of Tupelo, 204 So.2d 153, 155 (Miss.1967) (finding urban renewal plans should have been allowed into evidence). The airport study did not serve the purpose of showing the benefits which would be available to the general public from the new use of the land, but rather what information existed which was at the disposal of both a knowledgeable and willing seller and buyer. Thus, we are unquestionably unable to find that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting this testimony. ¶ 16. We review the trial court's decision today, looking only for an abuse of discretion. The trial judge's decision to admit the testimony must be given wide latitude. Because the testimony was based upon sufficient facts or data, was the product of reliable principles and methods, and was based on principles and methods reliably applied to the facts of the case, the testimony was able to assist the trier of fact and thus passes muster under Rule 702. As discussed above, the testimony also meets the Daubert test and was properly admitted. This issue is without merit.