Casa Loma Springs Development Co. v. Brevard County , 93 Fla. 601 ( 1927 )

In condemnation proceedings it appears that the public road authorities had taken possession of the property in controversy for right of way purposes before the trial to determine compensation to be awarded. This was illegal. Spafford v. Brevard County, ___ Fla. ___, 110 So.2d Rep. 451. The Court charged the jury that the compensation should be "the fair, actual market value at the time of the lawful appropriation, that is, at the present time."

In Sunday v. Louisville N. R. Co., 62 Fla. 395, 57 South. Rep. 351, the trial to determine the compensation to be awarded was before the property was appropriated, and it was properly held that the compensation should be "the fair actual market value at the time of the lawful appropriation." In this case the appropriation, though unlawful, was before the trial was had to determine the compensation to be awarded; and in view of the nature of the appropriation before trial, it appears from the evidence that the actual market value at the trial might not be the "full compensation" for the "property appropriated" that is required by the Constitution, therefore the quoted charge was harmful error. See 20 C. J. 827 et seq.; 2 Lewis Em. Domain (3 Ed.), see 705, 261 U.S. 299; 265 U.S. 106, 123.

Reversed.

TERRELL AND BUFORD, J. J., concur.

ELLIS, C. J., AND STRUM AND BROWN, J. J., concur in the opinion.