State Highway Commission v. Compton

The State of Oregon, through the Highway Commission, filed an action in eminent domain to take a portion of defendants’ property for highway purposes. A jury returned a verdict for defendants for $78,500 as compensation for the taking. Defendants, unsatisfied with the award, appealed to the Court of Appeals, which reversed the judgment and remanded the case for a new trial. 9 Or App 264, 490 P2d 743 (1971). We granted review.

The issues involve the admissibility of certain evidence.

Before the taking, the defendants owned nine lots consisting of approximately 40,000 square feet of land located…