North Carolina State Highway Commission v. Pearce

All matters in dispute were settled by a consent judgment except the amount of just compensation which the plaintiff is due the defendants for the taking of a perpetual easement for highway purposes over their lands. With its declaration of taking, the plaintiff had deposited the sum of $5,950.00 as its estimate of the amount due. The defendants, in their answer, demanded $20,000.00. The jury fixed the recovery at $8,500.00.

The defendants demand a new trial upon the asserted ground the trial judge committed errors of law in three particulars: (1) By refusing to permit defendants’ witnesses…