State v. Trask

In the first appeal of this condemnation case, 1 we ruled in part that Russell J. Trask was entitled to interest on an award of “just compensation.” We did not address how such interest should be calculated, and that question gives rise to this second appeal.

In January 1994, the State sued to condemn land owned by Trask. The State agreed to pay $2.5 million in exchange for immediate possession and use. The State and Trask also agreed that if a jury later valued the land at more than $2.5 million, the amount by which the jury’s award exceeded $2.5 million would bear simple interest at 12…