Court Opinion

ID: 9737160
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:17:38.330303+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:56.860735
License: Public Domain

BreNNAN, J.
{concurring). I concur with Justice Souris because as I read the statute, the highway department is not permitted to condemn the fee for the purpose of acquiring the right to take borrow from the land. I do not, however, think this case should pass through our Court without some comment being made upon this unfortunate statutory loophole. Mr. Hahn is getting something in excess of $10,000 for a farm which is worth less than $2,300, and he still gets to keep the farm, though admittedly it is not of much value anymore. Any schoolboy can see that such a state of law is most undesirable, not only because it represents an utter waste of tax dollars, but also because it represents the kind of windfall which can stir the dormant larceny in all but the most noble breast. So long as goodies like this flow from the highway department’s cornucopia, it can be expected that competition among prospective condemnees will be keen. And the decision as to which farmer will receive the bonanza will not be made in a vacuum.