Opinion ID: 895007
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Expenses Under Section 21.019(c)

Text: Section 21.019(c) provides: A court that hears and grants a motion to dismiss a condemnation proceeding made by a property owner seeking a judicial denial of the right to condemn or that otherwise renders a judgment denying the right to condemn may make an allowance to the property owner for reasonable and necessary fees for attorneys, appraisers, and photographers and for the other expenses incurred by the property owner to the date of the hearing or judgment. FKM's motion to dismiss asserted that the University introduced new compensation issues by its amendment, lacked a public necessity for the property, and failed to negotiate for the smaller tract. The trial court granted the motion without specifying its grounds. As we have set out above, however, none of the grounds urged were a valid basis for concluding the University did not have the right to condemn either the larger or smaller tract. The plain language of section 21.019(c) requires an order or judgment denying the right of the authority to condemn the property before fees and expenses can be recovered by a property owner. FKM does not assert any proper basis on which the trial court's order of dismissal could have denied the University's right to condemn the property. Accordingly, FKM could not recover fees and expenses under section 21.019(c).