Department of Transportation v. Roodhouse

The Department of Public Works and Buildings, predecessor to the Department of Transportation, condemned 9.66 acres of farmland owned by the defendants. A quick-take followed. The defendants appeal the judgment awarding compensation of $17,245, but because their incorrect post-trial motion practice has deprived this court of jurisdiction, we dismiss the appeal.

The defendants lost their time to appeal by filing successive post-trial motions attacking first the judgment and then the denial of their earlier motion. In Sears v. Sears (1981), 85 Ill. 2d 253, 422 N.E.2d 610, the supreme court held…