Standard Theatres, Inc. v. State, Department of Transportation

The state appeals a judgment awarding litigation expenses to Standard Theatres, Inc., in a condemnation proceeding. Because the court awarded more attorney fees than were reasonably necessary to allow Standard to prepare for and participate in the commission and court proceedings, we reverse the judgment. Because Standard could have obtained reasonable representation for $11,208.87, we remand this matter to the circuit court with directions to enter judgment for this amount.

Standard owned property in Vilas County in Northern Wisconsin. The state condemned a small portion of the property and…