United States v. 0.59 Acres of Land

RONEY, Senior Circuit Judge:

The landowners appeal a judgment awarding them less compensation than claimed for the Government’s declaration of easements over two separate tracts of land. A Government expert’s appraisal report was put before the jury with several pieces of inadmissible evidence attached. Because this rendered the trial unfair to the defendant landowners, we reverse.

In March 1992, the United States filed complaints and declarations of taking on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation to acquire permanent easements over a 33.31-acre tract of land owned by Frank and Verne Gee (Gee…