State Land Department v. Painted Desert Park, Inc.

MOLLOY, Judge.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the superior court entered on appeal from a decision of the Board of Appeals of the State Land Department, against the State of Arizona, awarding $48,000 to the ap-pellee as reimbursement for improvements made on state lands during the existence of a valid lease.

The appellee and his predecessors leased a parcel of state school land for commercial purposes for many years. The land abutted US Highway 66. The appellee improved the land and developed a trading post business thereon. Over the years the annual rent which the appellee paid the state…