Lowball Watch – Florida

The News Press reports the results of an eminent domain taking of 3.39 acres out of a 26-acre tract by Lee County (Mark S. Krzos, Estero Land Seizure Will Cost Lee $1.92 Million, Jury Rules, news-press.com, March 26, 2012 – click here) as follows: offer – $883,000; verdict – $1,920,000. Or, according to our calaculator the award was over twice the amount of the offer.

The bone of contention was the county’s position that it should pay only for the taken land, and pay nothing for severance damages which came to $860,000 according to the owner. The jury agreed.