Arkansas State Highway Comm'n v. Woody

George Rose Smith, Justice.

In this condemnation suit the highway department is acquiring a 24.07-acre strip of land needed in the relocation and improvement of Highway 71 in Sebastian county. The taking divides into two parts what was previously a 135-acre farm. The landowner Woody fixed the total damages at $45,-000. His expert witness, Glenn West, put the figure at $32,275.50, which was precisely the amount of the jury’s verdict. Witnesses for the highway department testified to total damages of about $9,000.

For reversal the highway department argues that the trial court erred in refusing…