Yesterday, May 2, 2008, a jury in Jacksonville, Florida, soundly rejected a condemnor’s valuation evidence in the case of Jacksonville Port Authority v. JAX Maritime Partners, Fla. Cir. Ct., 4th Judicial Dist., Duval County, Case No. 2006-CA-007802.
Condemnor’s offer of judgment was $15 million. Its appraisals presented at trial were $18.995 million and $17 million, indicating that the offer was $2 to $3.995 milion short of the condemnor’s own appraisal. The owner’s trial appraisal was $59.676 million. The owner testified to $80 million. The jury awarded $67.410 million.
We are informed that this is the largest jury verdict ever rendered in the Florida state courts in a condemnation case.
Andrew Brigham of the Jacksonville office of Brigham Moore, headquartered in Coral Gables, was lead trial counsel for the owner. He is a third-generation Florida condemnation lawyer.
Update. For a detailed summary of this case go to www.ownerscounsel.org, and read the post entitled Brigham Moore Attains Highest Jury Award for Eminent Domain Valuation in Florida Circuit Court. Wed May 07 00:55:00 EDT 2008.