Court Opinion

ID: 9854910
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:16:30.135971+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:36.023927
License: Public Domain

Lewis, Chief Justice
(dissenting) :
Respondent acquired the property involved in three parcels, referred to as Tracts 11, 12 and 14. Tracts 11 and 12 contain in the aggregate approximately sixteen and one-half acres and were purchased about six (6) months prior to the *196taking, and after the location of the highway was known, for the purpose of access to the much larger Tract 14, at a price considerably in excess of their value.
The majority holds the testimony of respondent’s appraisers incompetent and irrelevant upon the ground that the three parcels owned by respondent constituted one tract, as a matter of law, for the purposes of determining just compensation. It is then concluded that the trial judge, in considering this testimony, was in error and his decision to grant a new trial was accordingly influenced by an error of law.
All appraisers testified as to the differing uses of the parcels agreeing that the highest and best use of Tracts 11 and 12 was commercial and that of Tract 14 was for residential development. All appraisers agreed that the benefits to Tracts 11 and 12 exceeded the damages; but disagreed as to the assessment of damages to Tract 14. It is clearly inferable 'however that, but for the purchase of Tracts 11 and 12 by respondent for access after the location of the highway, the damages to Tract 14 would have exceeded any benefits to that tract.
Under the foregoing circumstances, I do not think that it can be soundly held, as a matter of law, that the three parcels must be considered as one tract in assessing just compensation. I, therefore, respectfully dissent.