Land In Path Of Bypass — Owners Awarded More Than Twice DOT Deposit — $494,000
Brief Statement of Claim: The North Carolina Department of Transportation took 37.19 acres out of a tract of 229.76 acres owned by the defendants. The property was located in the path of the new Highway 17 bypass around Elizabeth City. NCDOT deposited $208,400 for the land taken (its estimate of just compensation). The defendants said that was inadequate compensation.
Principal Injuries (in order of severity): Inadequate compensation for land taken
Special Damages: None
Tried or settled: Tried before jury
County where tried or settled: Pasquotank
Case Name and number: DOT v. Isaac Lemuel Harris and wife, Earlene Harris
Date Concluded: Verdict on April 7, 1999; trial lasted from April 5 to April 7.
Name of Judge: Frank Brown
Amount: Verdict was $494,000
Insurance Carrier: n/a
Expert Witnesses and areas of expertise: For plaintiffs: Bobby Heath, appraiser; Dexter Moore, appraiser; C.P. Shaw, appraiser; for defendants: Sean Robey, engineer; David Joyner, appraiser, Bruce Sauter, appraiser
Attorneys for defendants: Lloyd C. Smith Jr. and Jonathan E. Huddleston of Pritchett & Burch, PLLC, Windsor
Other Useful Info: The verdict was 2.4 times DOT’s estimate.
Disclaimer: Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Previous results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Testimonials are specifically selected for their favorable content.
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