Commodities Trading Corp. v. United States

Plaintiffs sue the defendant for what they deem just compensation for the requisition on May 26,1944, of 759, 750.88 pounds of whole black pepper. Plaintiffs claim that 22 cents a pound is just compensation. The defendant allowed them $50,266.76, plus an amount for delay in payment. The amount allowed was computed at 6% cents a pound, which was the ceiling price established by the Office of Price Administration.

We are of opinion that this ceiling price is not the measure of just compensation in this case. Pepper is not perishable; it can be stored for many years without deterioration. This is…