Steele v. Department of Transportation

Phipps, Judge.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) filed a condemnation petition to acquire fee simple title to 0.653 acres of land and a construction-and-maintenance easement in 0.028 acres of land within a 2.365-acre tract owned by Thomas Jerry Steele and others (condemnees). Dissatisfied with $154,050 the DOT paid into court as its estimate of the total compensation due the condemnees, they appealed to superior court. At trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the condemnees finding just and adequate compensation in the total amount of $308,000.

The condemnees now appeal…