Kolligian v. City of Cambridge

In the opinion of an appraiser for the owner, the fair market value of the property at 454-456 Broadway, Cambridge, before it was taken by eminent domain on June 21, 1974, was $500,000. Cambridge’s expert placed the value at $356,000. A jury returned a verdict of $390,000. The owner has appealed.

1. Following the close of all the evidence, the owner moved to strike the testimony of the city’s expert because he had defined fair market value in a manner which omitted the modifier “highest” from the price which a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller. See Epstein v. Boston Housing Authy.,…