Religious of the Sacred Heart of Texas v. City of Houston

This is a simple condemnation case made complex and confusing by today’s majority opinion. The City of Houston condemned a portion of a private school’s property, owned by an order of Catholic nuns, in order to extend a major thoroughfare. The only question for the jury to decide was the proper amount of just compensation required to restore the school to its original pre-taking utility. After a three week trial, during which 23 experts testified, the trial court submitted to the jury one broad form question which inquired as to what amount would justly and reasonably compensate the…