City of Iowa City v. Hagen Electronics, Inc.

NEUMAN, Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment entered for the landowner in an inverse condemnation action. Although the appeal raises multiple questions, our decision turns, ultimately, on the landowner’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies. We, therefore, reverse.

I. Factual Background.

In 1972, plaintiffs Hagen Electronics, Clarence Hagen, and Kenneth Hagen (hereinafter “Hagen”) purchased a tract of unimproved land southwest of Iowa City in Johnson County, Iowa. The tract of approximately 1.47 acres adjoined Highway 1 and the Iowa City Municipal Airport. At the time Hagen purchased…