Opinion ID: 1286022
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appeal to Jurors' Self-Interest as Taxpayers

Text: A lawyer representing a condemning authority may not exploit his position as representative of the taxpayers, including the jurors, to the detriment of the landowner. [7] A Texas appellate court ordered a new trial where the condemning authority's lawyer argued to the jury that as taxpayers they were directly interested in this suit and would pay any award out of [their] own pockets. West v State, 150 SW2d 363, 364 (Tex Civ App, 1941). In this case, the board's lawyer impermissibly sought to align the jurors as, in effect, parties on the taxpayers' side. During cross-examination of a witness he said,    I don't want the people of the County of Wayne to get hurt any worse than they have to, I just wonder if you would consider taking over the airport, you know, call it even. The Court sustained LeasCo's objection, adding: You are asking a question here that's really facetious   . I know that you wish to pursue aggressively, but there is a point where you stop. Board's lawyer: But in all candor, your Honor, I think $10 million, I might as well give them the airport. [8] The Court: That's argumentative. In closing argument, the board's lawyer reiterated that the interests of his client and the public were identical: We are making his property more valuable, the public is, and he wants us to pay him for that. [9]