Opinion ID: 2447003
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Jury Award Confirmation

Text: During trial in October 2009, the jury viewed the property, and the parties presented evidence of its fair market value at the time of the taking on November 18, 2005. The jury heard testimony from two appraisers. The first, called by the District, opined that the fair market value of the property at the time of the taking was $135,000. The second, called by Ms. Oh, testified that the fair market value of the property at the time of the taking was $225,000. In addition, Ms. Oh testified to her opinion, based on her conversations with her neighbors, that the fair market value of the property at the time of the taking was $600,000. The jury reached a verdict that the fair market value of the property at the time of the taking was $160,000. The trial court confirmed the jury's award, finding that [t]his figure was within the range of the expert appraiser testimony at trial, and is therefore neither unjust nor unreasonable. The trial court may vacate and set aside the [jury's] appraisement, in whole or in part, when satisfied that it is unjust or unreasonable. D.C.Code § 16-1318(a) (2001). This grants a broad discretion to the lower court[,] Johnson & Wimsatt, Inc. v. Hazen, 99 F.2d 384, 386 (D.C.Cir.1938), and thus our review is for abuse of discretion. We find none. Indeed, the only argument that Ms. Oh has advanced for vacating the trial court's confirmation of the jury's appraisement is that the taking did not occur on November 18, 2005, an argument we have rejected. See supra. The jury reached a valuation within the range established by the divergent appraisers' estimates, a fact that makes applicable the rule that [i]n a condemnation case, when the jury reached `a valuation from the evidence which the trial court confirms, it is not for us to say that it is so inadequate that the trial court abused its discretion. . . .' Certain Land in Washington v. United States, 355 F.2d 825, 826 (D.C.Cir.1965) (quoting Murray v. United States, 130 F.2d 442, 444 (1942)).