Black v. Department of Transportation

Hunt, Justice.

The question raised in this appeal is whether the exemption under the Open Records Law, OCGA § 50-18-70 et seq., relating to appraisals obtained by the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) for property it seeks to condemn, extends through the condemnation process or ends upon D.O.T.’s payment into court of its valuation of the property. The trial court held such appraisals are exempt until any litigation involving the condemnation is completed. We affirm.

Lloyd Black, Jr. owned property in Fayette County that the D.O.T. condemned for construction of a public road. Black…