Commonwealth, Department of Highways v. Ball

CLAY, Commissioner.

In this condemnation proceeding the jury awarded appellees $20,000 for the taking of something over three acres from a 30-acre tract located on U.S. 23 about a mile south of Louisa. The Commonwealth contends certain evidence was incompetent and the verdict was excessive.

Appellees’ property was hillside land, fronting about one-half mile on the highway, and sloping rather steeply to the top of a ridge. It was used as a pasture at the time of the taking, with no improvements except a barn (not taken). The Commonwealth took a strip across the frontage 93 feet in depth at its…