Opinion ID: 2759155
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The DOT's Arguments

Text: ¶21 The DOT argues that the LLC cannot recover damages under Wis. Stat. § 32.09(6g) for the LLC's loss of direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue. First, the DOT argues that damages for a temporary limited easement are not compensable under § 32.09(6g), which the DOT argues is ineffective and unsuitable for calculating damages for a temporary limited easement. According to the DOT, a temporary limited easement often does not affect the value of the subject property, so damages under § 32.09(6g) would unconstitutionally result in no compensation for the property owner in many cases. The DOT urges this court to hold that rental-value damages for a temporary limited easement are available under the Wisconsin Constitution's takings clause9 or § 32.09(6).10 9 Article I, Section 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution provides that [t]he property of no person shall be taken for public use without just compensation therefor. 10 Wisconsin Stat. § 32.09(6) (intro.) provides: In the case of a partial taking of property other than an easement, the compensation to be paid by the condemnor shall be the greater of either the fair market value of the property taken as of the date of evaluation or the sum determined by deducting from the fair market value of the whole property immediately before the date of evaluation, the fair market value of the remainder immediately after the date of evaluation, assuming the completion of the public improvement and giving effect, without allowance of offset for general benefits, and without restriction because of enumeration but without duplication, to the following items of loss or damage to the property where shown to exist . . . . 11 No. 2012AP2784 ¶22 If this court holds or assumes without deciding that damages for a temporary limited easement are compensable under Wis. Stat. § 32.09(6g), the DOT argues that the LLC may not recover damages under § 32.09(6g) for its loss of direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue, for two reasons. First, the DOT argues that, under the facts of this case, the LLC's damages under § 32.09(6g) for the temporary limited easement may not include damages for the LLC's loss of direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue because the temporary limited easement did not cause the LLC to lose direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue. Instead, according to the DOT, the relocation of 118th Avenue caused the LLC to lose direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue. The DOT relies on Jantz v. State, 63 Wis. 2d 404, 217 N.W.2d 266 (1974), and More-Way North Corp. v. State Highway Commission, 44 Wis. 2d 165, 170 N.W.2d 749 (1969), for the proposition that damages for a temporary limited easement may not include damages which were not caused by the temporary limited easement. ¶23 Second, the DOT argues that the LLC's damages for the temporary limited easement may not include damages under Wis. Stat. § 32.09(6g) for the LLC's loss of direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue because the DOT used its police power to limit the LLC's direct access and proximity to 118th Avenue.11 11 At oral argument, the DOT argued that Wis. Stat. § 84.29 gives it a police power to relocate a public road, including 118th Avenue. 12 No. 2012AP2784 Relying on Stefan Auto Body v. State Highway Commission, 21 Wis. 2d 363, 124 N.W.2d 319 (1963), and Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co. v. Railroad Commission of Wisconsin, 178 Wis. 485, 188 N.W. 86 (1922), the DOT argues that relocating a public road is an exercise of the police power. The DOT relies on Surety Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Department of Transportation, 54 Wis. 2d 438, 195 N.W.2d 464 (1972), to argue that a landowner may not recover damages for loss of direct access to a public road if the State eliminated that direct access under its police power and if the landowner retained other access to the public road. Because the LLC retained indirect access to 118th Avenue via 74th Place after 118th Avenue was relocated, the DOT argues, the LLC's damages for the temporary limited easement may not include damages under § 32.09(6g) for the LLC's loss of direct access to 118th Avenue.