Opinion ID: 1144018
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: need for an amended complaint

Text: The State's Amended Complaint involved the condemnation of the entire property of the landowners, which was described as containing an area of 2.71 acres. In its answer to the counterclaim, the State attached a survey description and map indicating that the land area involved contained only 2.364 acres. At trial the State explained that although it was condemning the entire 2.71 acres of property, the ocean had covered up part of the original land parcel. As the part of the property under water was of no value, the valuation of the entire parcel would involve only the value of the 2.364 acres left above water. It is clear that no amendment of the complaint was necessary and that the court did not err in allowing the surveyor to testify that the useable area of the condemned land measured only 2.364 acres.