San Diego Gas & Elec. Co. v. Schmidt CA4/1

Opinion

McINTYRE, J.

Plaintiff San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) initiated this eminent domain proceeding to condemn an easement for electric transmission lines across the property of defendants Arnold J. and Valerie Schmidt and Luis Naranjo after the parties could not agree on an appropriate valuation for the property. Agreeing with property owners’ experts that an open-pit mining operation was the “highest and best use” for the land, the jury valued the property at about $8 million. SDG&E appeals, contending the judgment and order denying its motion for judgment notwithstanding the…