Davis v. State

CASANUEVA, Judge.

The trial of this eminent domain action raised issues of greed, intrigue, and intra-family relationships. Unfortunately, those issues were not relevant to this action, and we must reverse because the trial court admitted certain prejudicial evidence that adversely influenced the jury’s damage award in this partial taking.

The State of Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) filed a petition in eminent domain to take certain property owned half by Hershel L. Davis and Olga B. Davis as tenants by the entirety, and half by the estate of Hershel’s mother, Juanita Davis. The…