Hemphill v. Mississippi State Highway Commission

This case concerns an executory interest in land, following a defeasible fee, but to shift to named takers only upon an uncertain event. The principal questions are whether the owners of this estate have a compensable interest in lands taken and allegedly damaged by the State Highway Commission for highway purposes, and whether and how such an interest is capable of evaluation. We hold that this particular exe-cutory interest is a compensable one under the constitutional provision guaranteeing compensation for property taken or damaged by the state, but pretermit for the present a decision on…