Townsend v. Arkansas State Highway Commission

There is something terribly unjust about the majority court’s opinion. This court affirms the trial court’s finding Ray Townsend in contempt of court and Townsend now must serve thirty days in jail as punishment. Such punishment is a direct result of this court’s error in the Arkansas Highway Commission’s first appeal. See Arkansas State Highway Comm’n v. Townsend, 313 Ark. 702, 858 S.W.2d 66 (1993) (Townsend I).

In Townsend I, this court erroneously reversed and dismissed the appeal instead of remanding the case for further proceedings. The Arkansas Highway Commission failed to ask this court…