Opinion ID: 1885466
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the jury award of $2,300,000 was based on conjecture, supposition or mere possibilities and was so grossly excessive as to evince bias, passion and prejudice.

Text: ¶ 10. We review the denial of a new trial for abuse of discretion. Alpha Gulf Coast, Inc. v. Jackson, 801 So.2d 709, 722 (Miss.2001). Also, in eminent domain cases, we must be satisfied that the award was not so excessive as to evince bias, passion, or prejudice and that it is supported by competent facts, not conjecture, supposition, or mere possibilities. Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Viverette, 529 So.2d 896, 900 (Miss.1988) ¶ 11. This entire case boils down to a battle of the experts. MTC argues that the disparity in valuations [1] evinces bias, passion and prejudice or at least raises a red flag of doubt as to whether the jury was furnished with a reasonable basis upon which to fix the value of the property. To support this contention, MTC submits that Walker's testimony was based on conjecture, supposition or mere possibilities. MTC complains that Walker used judgment where there was no factual data, and therefore he was speculating. The trial court allowed Walker's testimony noting that Walker could be questioned on cross-examination. ¶ 12. MTC notes that this Court has held that a disparity in value could only have bias and prejudice for the jury in their duty of reaching a fair valuation. McDuffie v. Miss. State Highway Comm'n, 239 Miss. 518, 522, 124 So.2d 284, 285-86 (1960). No explanation is provided for the holding. There were two witnesses for the State whose valuations were within $50 of each other. The landowners' witness testified that the property was worth almost five times as much. Id. at 285. However, in the case sub judice only two valuation experts testified; there was not a third expert to corroborate or discount the two experts' figures. ¶ 13. MTC also cites four other cases where this Court has reversed the jury award or suggested a remittitur when there has been a vast discrepancy in valuation amounts. See Miss. Power Co. v. Walters, 204 So.2d 471 (Miss.1967); Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Trammell, 252 Miss. 413, 174 So.2d 359 (1965); Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Hillcrest Farm, Inc., 252 Miss. 154, 171 So.2d 491 (1965); Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Pepper, 250 Miss. 347, 164 So.2d 911 (1964). ¶ 14. However, more recently we have noted that it is not uncommon for damages estimates to vary widely in condemnation cases. State Highway Comm'n v. Warren, 530 So.2d 704 (Miss.1988), Smith v. Miss. State Highway Comm'n, 423 So.2d 808 (Miss.1982). Also, we have hesitated to interfere with jury verdicts in eminent domain cases especially when the jury has viewed the land. Miss. Transp. Comm'n v. Bridgforth, 709 So.2d 430, 441 (Miss. 1998); State Highway Comm'n v. Havard, 508 So.2d 1099, 1105 (Miss.1987). ¶ 15. MTC claims that it was merely taking 37 acres of undeveloped land and was doing no damage to the remainder. Highland asked the jury to consider damage to the whole property. We have noted that the rule in this State is that when a part of a larger tract of land is taken for public use, the owners should be awarded the difference between the fair market value of the whole tract immediately before the taking and the fair market value of the remaining property immediately after the taking, without considering the general benefits or injuries to the use of the taken land. Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Hancock, 309 So.2d 867, 870 (Miss.1975). Also in eminent domain cases we are not at liberty to order a new trial unless the verdict is so at variance with the evidence as to shock the conscience of the court ... Id. Further, if there is any substantial evidence supporting the award, we will not interfere, especially when the jury has viewed the property. See Bridgforth, 709 So.2d at 441; Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Franklin County Timber Co., 488 So.2d 782, 787 (Miss.1986) (citing City of Jackson v. Landrum, 217 Miss. 10, 63 So.2d 391 (1953)). ¶ 16. The jury members are all taxpayers, and they know that the money paid in eminent domain proceedings essentially comes out of their pockets. Further, the jury is not bound by the opinions of the experts; the jury is free to assess its own damages independently of the opinions offered. See Franklin County Timber Co., 488 So.2d at 787 (citing Miss. State Hwy. Comm'n v. Terry, 288 So.2d 465, 466 (Miss.1974)). ¶ 17. The verdict here is supported by the evidence and is not outrageous or extravagant. Indeed, there was considerable testimony by both experts, and the award is the exact amount that Walker opined to be just compensation. The fact that the two experts have differing opinions as to the valuation of the property does not on its face indicate that there was bias or prejudice. See Franklin County Timber Co., 488 So.2d at 788. ¶ 18. Every complaint on appeal regarding Walker's testimony, and Burckart's for that matter, was brought out at trial in front of the jury either through direct examination, cross-examination or with rebuttal testimony. The jury viewed the land, heard the experts' opinions along with the extensive cross-examination and rebuttal testimony, and made an assessment. We find no reason to disturb these findings.