South Carolina Department of Transportation v. Richardson

STILWELL, Judge:

In this condemnation action, a jury awarded Jerry Lee Richardson $500,000 as just compensation for the taking of his property. The trial court, however, denied Richardson’s request for litigation costs. Richardson appeals the denial. We affirm.

FACTS

The South Carolina Department of Transportation condemned 6.9 acres of Richardson’s 26.20 acre tract located on Hilton Head Island. The property was in the path of the Cross-Island Expressway.

Richardson’s expert witness testified the appropriate amount for Richardson’s just compensation was approximately $415,000 which included the…