County of De Kalb v. Smith

Defendants, Robert I. Smith and his wife, Betsy W. Smith, contest in this appeal the authority of the County of De Kalb to condemn two adjoining parcels of land owned by them in the county seat, Sycamore, Illinois, for parking lot purposes. The remaining defendants listed have secondary mortgage or trust rights in the subject property but are not involved in this appeal. After the Smiths’ amended traverse and motion to dismiss was denied, the cause proceeded to jury trial, and judgment was entered on the jury’s verdict finding $175,000 to be just compensation for the property taken. The…