Hamer v. School Board of the City of Chesapeake

*69In this eminent domain proceeding, the issues on appeal concern the necessity of the taking, the burden of proof, the right to open and close final arguments, and comments of counsel during summation.

In 1985, the School Board of the City of Chesapeake (the Board) began a study of the need for expansion of the City’s school system to meet anticipated population growth. In early 1988, after considering several alternatives, the Board adopted resolutions declaring that it was necessary to acquire a tract containing “50.2569 Acres, more or less” in the City, owned by members of the Hamer family,…