City of Harlingen v. Estate of Sharboneau

joined by Justice HECHT, Justice OWEN, Justice ABBOTT, and Justice JEFFERSON.

The sole issue in this condemnation case is whether the condemnee’s valuation evidence is admissible. The condemnor, the City of Harlingen, contends that the trial court erred in admitting testimony from the landowner’s expert based on an appraisal method described as subdivision development analysis. Under this approach, the witness estimated the land’s gross value as if it were subdivided for residential development, then discounted this value for the estimated costs of development. Based on the expert’s testimony,…