State ex rel. Department of Highways v. Hayes

CULPEPPER, Judge.

This is an expropriation by a declaration of taking, filed under the provisions of L.S.A.-R.S. 48:441-460. The State took a portion of defendant’s land, measuring 214.04 feet by 27.15 feet, for a new highway. Plaintiff deposited $1,200 as compensation for the strip of land and railroad spur track taken, but no amount whatever was paid for severance damages. Defendant answered, applying for a trial to determine the market value of the property expropriated, plus severance damages, in the total sum of $35,498.30. After trial on the *668merits the district judge held that the market…