Dept of Transportation v. HJ Grathol ( 2015 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 40168
STATE OF IDAHO, DEPARTMENT OF )
TRANSPORTATION, )
)
Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross Appellant, )
)
v. )
)
HJ GRATHOL, a California general ) Boise, November 2014 Term
partnership, )
) 2015 Opinion No. 17
Defendant-Appellant-Cross )
Respondent, ) Filed: February 11, 2015
)
and ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
STERLING SAVINGS BANK, a Washington )
corporation, and DOES 1 through 5, )
)
Defendants. )
)
)
Appeal from the District Court of the First Judicial District, State of Idaho,
Kootenai County. Hon. Charles W. Hosack, Senior District Judge
District court decision in eminent domain case, affirmed in part, vacated in part,
and remanded.
Ramsden & Lyons, Coeur d’Alene, for appellant/cross-respondent. Douglas S.
Marfice argued.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Idaho Attorney General, and Holland & Hart, Boise,
for respondent-cross appellant. Mary V. York argued.
__________________________________
BURDICK, Chief Justice
HJ Grathol (“Grathol”) appeals the Kootenai County district court’s judgment awarding
Grathol $675,000 in just compensation from the Idaho Transportation Department (“ITD”). This
eminent domain case arose when ITD acted to condemn 16.314 acres to improve U.S. Highway
95 (“U.S. 95”). Those 16.314 acres were part of 56.8 acres that Grathol owned in Athol, Idaho.
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After a bench trial, the district court held that just compensation would be based on the value of
the 56.8 acre parcel. The court also held the property remaining after the condemnation suffered
no severance damages. Grathol argues on appeal that the district court applied the wrong law and
should have instead based just compensation on a 30 acre parcel. Grathol also argues that the
district court ignored Grathol’s severance damage evidence and improperly excluded testimony
about damages from a proposed frontage road.
Grathol also appeals the district court’s award of costs and discretionary fees to ITD,
arguing that condemnors are not entitled to costs and that the court did not find ITD’s
discretionary costs were necessary and exceptional. ITD cross-appeals, arguing that the district
court erred when it did not award ITD reasonable attorney fees under Ada County Highway
District v. Acarrequi, 105 Idaho 873, 673 P.2d 1067 (1983). We affirm the district court’s
judgment, vacate the court’s denial of attorney fees, affirm the court’s award of costs, and
remand.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Grathol purchased a 56.8 acre parcel in Kootenai County on May 28, 2008, for
$1,450,000. Grathol is a California general partnership that develops commercial real estate
projects for profit. Two days after Grathol purchased the property, it submitted a rezone
application to change the property’s zoning from rural to commercial. In November 2008,
Kootenai County granted Grathol’s request and rezoned the entire 56.8 acres to commercial.
ITD filed a complaint on November 19, 2010, to condemn a 16.314-acre portion
(hereinafter “the 16 acres”) of Grathol’s property. Those 16 acres were in the western portion of
Grathol’s 56.8 acres. ITD needed to condemn those 16 acres as part of its plan to improve U.S.
95 from a two-lane to a four-lane highway between Garwood and Sagle in north Idaho.
Grathol’s 56.8 acre parcel was located at the northeast corner of U.S. 95 and Highway 54,
near Athol. The property was bare and undeveloped land, except for an old building on a .4-acre
square on the southwest corner. That .4-acre square’s northeastern corner touched the southwest
corner of the other 56.4 acres. The property is bounded by U.S. 95 on the west, Highway 54 on
the south, and Howard Road on the east. After the U.S. 95 project is done, part of Grathol’s 56.8
acres will still have frontage on the former U.S. 95. The remaining property will be adjacent to a
new interchange with Highway 54.
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ITD moved for possession of the 16 acres on December 21, 2010. Grathol opposed,
arguing that ITD’s complaint did not offer a value for ITD’s planned extension of a frontage
road, named Sylvan Road, through Grathol’s property. ITD responded that it was not
constructing an extension of Sylvan Road on Grathol’s property and was not planning to
condemn Grathol’s property for that purpose. At a January 2011 hearing, the district court held
that the taking was necessary, complied with the statutory requirements, and did not include an
extension of Sylvan Road across Grathol’s property. Also, the court held that ITD had offered
fair market value for the taking plus an additional 10%, but Grathol had refused the offer. The
court later entered an order granting ITD possession of the real property in exchange for
depositing $571,000 with the court towards just compensation. The court entered a Rule 54(b)
certificate, and Grathol appealed that order to the Idaho Supreme Court in Department of
Transportation v. HJ Grathol (Grathol I), 153 Idaho 87, 278 P.3d 957 (2012). The Court
affirmed the district court’s order in June 2012.
On January 6, 2012, ITD filed a motion in limine and a motion for summary judgment in
the district court. In the motion in limine, ITD argued that the opinions of Grathol’s valuation
experts failed to meet admissibility standards. In the motion for summary judgment, ITD sought
to dismiss Grathol’s seven just compensation claims. One of those claims was for the taking of
land for Sylvan Road. The other six claims were for items of special damages claimed as
severance damages. These special damages were: (1) construction delay; (2) loss of visibility; (3)
loss of access; (4) loss of profits; (5) loss of the value of an alleged gravel deposit; and (6) loss
due to adverse impacts on Grathol’s development plan.
The district court heard ITD’s motions on February 2, 2012. During the hearing,
Grathol’s counsel conceded the claims for construction delay, lost profits, and loss of a gravel
deposit. The court commented that Grathol’s expert disclosures did not disclose any opinions (1)
about the remaining property’s fair market value before and after the taking or (2) the amount of
damages Grathol sought as special damages claimed as severance damages.
The next day the district court entered separate orders for each motion. For the motion in
limine, the court required Grathol to provide a supplemental expert witness disclosure with
opinions that included the basis of a fair market value for the remainder property before and after
the taking. The court ordered that these disclosures include the nature and amount of special
damage items as severance damages. The court then granted ITD’s motion for summary
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judgment in part, dismissing the three conceded special damage claims and the alleged Sylvan
Road taking damage claim. The court denied ITD’s summary judgment motion for Grathol’s
severance damage claims based upon the project’s other alleged adverse impacts.
On February 10, 2012, Grathol filed its supplemental expert disclosure with opinions
from two of its experts, Dewitt Sherwood and Alan Johnson. However, that disclosure did not
include opinions about the specific amounts for the special damages Grathol claimed as
severance damages. At a February 2012 hearing, Grathol’s counsel conceded that Grathol did not
seek money damages on its remaining claims for loss of visibility, loss of access, and adverse
impact on the proposed development. Grathol asserted that any loss was incorporated into the
fair market value difference in the property. Grathol limited its severance damage claims to the
disclosed opinions that calculated the amount of damages based on the difference between the
fair market value for the remainder before and after the taking.
Several days later, the court decided ITD’s motion in limine. The court prohibited any
testimony about severance damage amounts for any specific adverse impact and dismissed
Grathol’s damage claims for any special damage items claimed as severance damages. This left
only Grathol’s severance damage claims that were based on the difference in the remainder’s fair
market value before and after the taking. However, the court allowed Grathol’s fact testimony on
the loss of visibility, access, and development as evidence relevant to expert opinions on
severance damages based on the difference in the remainder’s fair market value.
The court held a five-day trial that began March 5, 2012. Four expert witnesses testified
about the property’s value. Sherwood testified as an expert appraiser for Grathol. His testimony
and appraisal report were based on the value of a 30-acre parcel. He used 30 acres because he
could not find any comparable commercial developments that needed more than 30 acres. His
report also indicated that the remaining 26 acres might be used for self-storage, residential, or
light-industrial. Grathol’s other value witness was Alan Johnson, Grathol’s Vice President and
part owner. Johnson based his value for the property taken on a 30-acre parcel as well. He
testified that he valued the western 30 acres at $3.23 per square foot and the eastern 26 acres at
$1 per square foot. However, he based his value for severance damages on a 40-acre remainder
parcel. He also stated that he believed the 30 acres had a value before the taking of $4 per square
foot. He summarized his valuation in an exhibit presented at trial.
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During Johnson’s testimony, he was asked whether the proposed frontage road named
Sylvan Road would impact his opinion of the remainder’s value or use. ITD objected, arguing
that it was impermissible testimony because ITD had not alleged it was building Sylvan Road as
part of the case. ITD also argued that Johnson was not testifying to a discrete value so he was
testifying to a decrease in value not reflected in his value figures. The court allowed Johnson to
answer, but only with a yes or no. Johnson answered “yes.”
ITD used appraiser Stan Moe as its first value witness. Moe determined the larger parcel
was 56.39 acres and did not include the .4-acre parcel. Larry Pynes was ITD’s second appraiser.
Pynes based his analysis on the whole 56.8 acres and testified the value of the partial taking was
$675,000. After trial, the parties submitted post-trial briefing on the larger parcel issue and the
valuation methodology issue. Neither of ITD’s experts testified that the property suffered
severance damages.
The district court awarded Grathol $675,000 in just compensation based upon a larger
parcel of all 56.8 acres. The court found that the preponderance of the evidence favored finding
the larger parcel was 56.8 acres, not the 30-acre parcel Sherwood and Johnson testified to. The
court found this based on the historical unity of title, use, and contiguity as well as the evidence
of future commercial use because the property was currently all zoned as commercial. The court
found no persuasive evidence that an owner would divide the 56.8 acres for anything other than
commercial or retail use.
The district court then held there were zero severance damages because Grathol’s
evidence of a fair market value decrease after ITD’s taking was unpersuasive. The court noted
that Sherwood found the remainder’s after value was $1,344,457, but Sherwood’s testimony was
unpersuasive because of his indirect and confusing testimony. The court’s problems with his
testimony included that he was inconsistent as to the size of the remainder, never referred to
severance damages in his report, and never did the math on the severance damages in his report.
The court emphasized that Sherwood did not clarify his damage amounts at trial, but instead
testified that the value of the remainder parcel was $2.25 a foot both before and after the taking
and expressly stated that there was “zero severance” when asked if there was severance damage.
The district court also found Johnson’s severance damage conclusions unpersuasive
because they were contradictory, confusing, and based on a 30-acre parcel. Johnson’s valuation
after the taking was contingent on Grathol’s development being complete, and he never called
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his damages severance damages. Thus, the court found that Grathol did not establish a decrease
in the remainder’s fair market value after the taking.
ITD then requested attorney fees based upon the Acarrequi factors. 1 At an August 2012
hearing, the district court made its decision on attorney fees and costs from the bench. The court
began by determining which statute provided for attorney fees. The court found Idaho Code
section 12-117 applied as the exclusive source of awarding fees to a state entity. The court then
found ITD could not recover fees because Grathol acted with a reasonable basis in fact or law.
Next, the district court stated that costs could be awarded to condemnors outright as the
prevailing party. The court found ITD was the prevailing party under the Acarrequi factors and
awarded costs as a matter of right. The court also awarded ITD its discretionary costs for Pynes.
Thus, the district court awarded ITD $24,298.56 in costs. Grathol timely appealed.
II. ISSUES ON APPEAL
1. Whether the district court erred in holding that Grathol’s 56.8 acre parcel is the larger
parcel.
2. Whether the district court erred when it found Grathol’s remaining property suffered no
severance damages.
3. Whether the district court erred in excluding testimony concerning Sylvan Road.
4. Whether the district court erred in its attorney fees and costs award.
5. Whether ITD is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
III. ANALYSIS
A. Substantial and competent evidence supports the district court’s holding that 56.8 acres
was the larger parcel.
1
The Acarrequi factors include:
(1) whether a condemnor reasonably made a timely offer of settlement of at least 90 percent of the ultimate jury
verdict;
(2) whether the offer was timely and not made “on the courthouse steps an hour prior to trial”;
(3) whether the offer was made within a reasonable period after the action was instituted;
(4) whether the condemnee contested the allegations of public use and necessity;
(5) the outcome of any hearing on such a challenge;
(6) whether the condemnor made any modifications in the project’s plan or designs resulting from the landowner’s
challenge; and
(7) whether the condemnee voluntarily granted possession of the property pending resolution of the just
compensation issue.
State ex rel. Smith v. Jardine, 130 Idaho 318, 320, 940 P.2d 1137, 1139 (1997).
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Grathol owns a 56.8-acre parcel and ITD is taking 16 acres of that parcel. The district
court valued the 16 acres that ITD condemned as part of a 56.8-acre parcel. Grathol contends that
the district court should have considered the 16 acres as part of the western 30 acres, and not as
part of all 56.8 acres. The parties disagree about how much land to value because of the premise
that a smaller parcel appraises for a higher value than a larger parcel.
When the government condemns only part of a larger piece of land, it is a partial takings
case. See State ex rel. Symms v. City of Mountain Home, 94 Idaho 528, 531, 493 P.2d 387, 390
(1972). The parties do not dispute that this is a partial takings case. In a partial takings case,
courts use a “larger parcel” analysis to determine the portion of property to value. Id. at 532, 493
P.2d at 391. This Court has stated: “If, as a matter of fact, the parcel taken is part of a larger tract
held by the same owner, it is error to consider such parcel as if it constituted an entire tract
separate and apart from other property in the possession of the same owner.” Id. at 531, 493 P.2d
at 390. A court determines what property is included in the larger parcel by assessing three
elements: (1) unity of title, (2) contiguity, and (3) unity of use. State ex rel. Symms v. Nelson
Sand & Gravel, Inc., 93 Idaho 574, 581, 468 P.2d 306, 313 (1970). The landowner bears the
burden of proving these three unities because he bears the burden of proving just compensation.
See Rocky Mountain Power v. Jensen, 154 Idaho 549, 555, 300 P.3d 1037, 1043 (2012).
The amount of property that is included in the larger parcel is a question of fact using the
three larger parcel elements of unity of use, unity of title, and contiguity. See, e.g., City of
Mountain Home, 94 Idaho at 532, 493 P.2d at 391 (holding a jury properly concluded that a 14-
acre taking was part of a 255.44-acre larger parcel when the City owned all the land and all
255.44 acres were to be developed for recreational uses, despite a drainage ditch that left part of
the property separated from the rest of the land); State ex rel. Rich v. Fonburg, 80 Idaho 269,
277, 328 P.2d 60, 64 (1958) (holding that farm property owned by a single owner was not all
part of the larger parcel when another person owned land between the parcels and the two parcels
were separated by a railroad track); Nelson Sand & Gravel, Inc., 93 Idaho at 581, 493 P.2d at
313 (holding that two tracts of land separated by a roadway composed a larger parcel that
allowed a severance damages award because the two tracts were used as a single unit). In other
words, the specific facts of each case establishing unity of ownership, contiguity, and unity of
use are the focus of the analysis. This Court has emphasized the importance of unity of use,
stating that when “it is clear that there is unity of use between two tracts, a slight separation of
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the tracts generally will not preclude an award of severance damages.” Nelson Sand & Gravel,
Inc., 93 Idaho at 579, 468 P.2d at 311.
Grathol argues that the district court applied the wrong law and ignored legal authority
that a larger parcel could encompass less than the entire 56.8 acres. Grathol contends that the
court’s legal error “led to an avalanche of erroneous factual finding.” Grathol articulates this
legal error as the district court erroneously believing the land taken always has to be valued as
part of the landowner’s entire property.
Grathol is wrong. The district court did not reject Grathol’s legal argument that a larger
parcel could be less than an entire property. The court rejected Grathol’s theory based upon the
facts. The district court found by a preponderance of the evidence that the larger parcel was the
entire 56.8 acres because of the history of the unity of title, contiguity, and use, and because the
evidence of common future use of commercial development showed the property was one
integral unit. While the district court stated that it thought Grathol’s theory was not recognized in
Idaho law and was contrary to Idaho law, the district court held the larger parcel was 56.8 acres
after assuming a 30-acre larger parcel was permitted. The court factually analyzed unity of use
and found unity of use existed because Grathol and all previous owners had used the 56.8 acres
as an integral unit. Further, the property was currently all zoned as commercial. Thus, the district
court determined the larger parcel was the entire 56.8 acres based upon the facts, not upon an
erroneous legal premise.
The question is therefore whether the 56.8-acre larger parcel is supported by substantial
and competent evidence. We review the district court’s decision to determine whether the
evidence supports the findings of fact and whether the findings of fact support the conclusions of
law. Nampa & Meridian Irr. Dist. v. Washington Fed. Sav., 135 Idaho 518, 521, 20 P.3d 702,
705 (2001). On appeal, we liberally construe a district court’s findings of fact in a bench trial in
favor of the judgment entered, in view of the district court’s role as trier of fact. Id. The district
court, as trier of fact, weighs conflicting evidence and testimony and judges witness credibility.
Id. We will not substitute our view of the facts for the district court’s view. Id. Where the district
court bases its findings of fact on substantial evidence, even if the evidence is conflicting, we do
not overturn those findings on appeal. Id. Neither party disputes unity of title or contiguity, so
the issue on appeal is whether substantial and competent evidence supports the district court’s
finding that all 56.8 acres of Grathol’s property had unity of use.
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Substantial and competent evidence supports the district court’s finding that the property
had unity of use. At the time of the taking, Grathol had obtained zoning of the entire property as
commercial. In fact, Grathol applied to the county to rezone all the property from rural to
commercial just two days after it purchased the property. The property had previously been
undeveloped and zoned as rural, except for a .4-acre square on the corner that was zoned
commercial and had a small building on it. All testimony indicated that commercial development
was the property’s highest and best use in the future. ITD’s two appraisers testified that the entire
property’s highest and best use was commercial development. Johnson, Grathol’s Vice President,
testified that Grathol developed its properties commercially and would do so in the future. While
Sherwood, one of Grathol’s appraisers, reported that the eastern 26.8 acres might have a different
use as self-storage, residential, or light-industrial, Sherwood did not support that statement with
any plans. Also, Grathol did not provide evidence that it wanted a partial rezone. This evidence
supports the district court’s holding that the use was uniformly commercial.
Grathol argues the district court erred by basing its decision on only the property’s zoning
as commercial development. Grathol argues that commercial development is not a “use” and
evidence showed that the western 30 acres would be used differently as an independent
economic unit and would be developed in a different phase. Grathol contends that the district
court decided to discount Sherwood’s analysis that 30 acres was the larger parcel.
The court stated that Grathol only wanted to separate 30 of the 56.8 acres as the larger
parcel based on Sherwood’s opinion that the western acreage was a location more suitable for a
proposed commercial development. The court concluded that
Sherwood’s opinion that a proposed 30 acre development could be built on the
56.8 acres, and, if there were no freeway, the development would have been
located on the westerly 30 acres, is both credible and logical. But assigning a
higher value to the 30 acres does not change the fact that the preponderance of the
evidence establishes that the larger parcel on this record is the entire 56.8 acre
parent tract. Sherwood’s methodology of creating a larger parcel based on its
value to a proposed future commercial development is factually unpersuasive
when considered in light of all the other evidence in the record.
Indeed, the record has little support for a 30-acre larger parcel. Sherwood stated that commercial
property owners usually use only 30 acres, but this idea is contradicted by the fact that Grathol
purchased 56 acres and had it all zoned commercial. It is also contradicted by one of Sherwood’s
cited comparable sales of 235 acres, which included Cabela’s use of 40 acres. Other than
Sherwood’s testimony that he discussed the 30-acre designation with a few other brokers in his
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office, he provided no concrete evidence that 30 acres is common or an industry standard. While
one witness testified that it was possible for the 30-acre development’s water treatment system to
be located entirely on the 30 acres, another testified that the development needed a portion of the
eastern 26 acres for the water treatment system. Grathol’s site plans also show use beyond 30
acres, specifically a travel plaza in the eastern 26 acres. Thus, the district court could have found
the evidence did not indicate that Grathol’s actual plan would fit on just 30 acres.
Finally, Grathol seems to indicate that the 30-acre parcel’s “different use” will be an
additional commercial development that takes place at a different time. This difference would be
the equivalent to the difference between a Wal-Mart built first on the 30 acres, and a restaurant
and hotel built later on the remaining 26 acres. Nothing about that difference suggests a real
divide in the property’s highest and best use, only a difference in the business that occupies the
space and when the development takes place. Thus, the record contradicts Grathol’s claim that
no evidence supported the conclusion that all 56.8 acres would have uniform use. Instead, zoning
designations and testimony that the highest and best use was commercial are substantial evidence
that supports the district court’s finding that the larger parcel was 56.8 acres.
Grathol relies heavily on City of Phoenix v. Wilson, 21 P.3d 388 (Ariz. 2001). In Wilson,
the city condemned 1.4 acres of a landowner’s 23.24-acre parcel. 21 P.3d at 390. At the time, all
23.24 acres were zoned low-density residential development. Id. However, the city’s general
plan classified the area as one that should be developed as high-density residential use. Id. The
landowner’s appraiser testified that this classification meant rezoning was very likely and
therefore 5 of the 23 acres had a different highest and best use. Id. After a trial, the jury adopted
this appraiser’s value. Id. at 391. The Arizona Court of Appeals reversed the jury’s verdict,
holding that the property taken should have been valued only as a discrete, separate unit or as a
part of the entire parcel, but not as part of a hypothetical unit less than the entire parcel. Id. The
Arizona Supreme Court vacated the Arizona Court of Appeals’ opinion and affirmed the trial
court, concluding that once a jury decided that those 5 acres could have a different use, then that
5-acre parcel could be the larger parcel valued for the landowner’s just compensation. Id. at 394.
The Arizona Supreme Court explained: “when the evidence provides an adequate foundation by
common sense and market data showing different highest and best uses, we see no reason why it
is improper to consider a large tract of property as if, in the before condition, it were divisible
into separate hypothetical entities.” Id.10
Here, Wilson is distinguishable because Grathol’s evidence does not provide any
foundation for different highest and best uses. Unlike the appraiser in Wilson who testified about
a probable zone change that would give part of the parcel a different highest and best use, here it
was undisputed that the highest and best use of Grathol’s entire property was commercial
development. The district court observed this difference and commented, “Even if Wilson were
controlling authority, it does not resolve this case, where the larger hypothetical parcel is based
upon a theory that it has a higher value than the rest of the ground within the parent tract which is
outside the hypothetical parcel.” Indeed, Grathol’s argument that part of its property had a
different use from the rest of the property was just speculation. Grathol had no factual basis for
this claim. Thus, the district court properly rejected Grathol’s 30-acre larger parcel theory based
on the court’s factual analysis. Because the district court’s finding that the larger parcel was 56.8
acres is based upon substantial and competent evidence, we affirm the district court’s decision to
that end.
B. Substantial and competent evidence supports the district court’s holding that Grathol’s
remaining property suffered zero severance damages.
In addition to valuing the property taken, courts must value the remaining property’s
severance damages when the remainder has decreased in value due to the taking. 29A C.J.S.
Eminent Domain § 145 (2014). The remainder is the property left in the “larger parcel” after the
property taken is removed. Severance damages are “the damages which will accrue to the portion
not sought to be condemned, by reason of its severance from the portion sought to be
condemned, and the construction of the improvement in the manner proposed by the plaintiff.”
I.C. § 7-711. Severance damages are recoverable under Idaho Code section 7-711, but are limited
to damages caused “by reason of [the remaining parcel’s] severance from the portion sought to
be condemned.” Id. In other words, severance damages are damages caused because of the
taking. See Pac. Nw. Pipeline Corp. v. Waller, 80 Idaho 105, 109, 326 P.2d 388, 391 (1958).
Severance damages are determined by calculating the difference between the remainder’s
fair market value before the taking and the remainder’s fair market value after the taking. State
ex rel. Rich v. Dunclick, Inc., 77 Idaho 45, 56, 286 P.2d 1112, 1118 (1955). Fair market value is
the amount a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree on. Ada Cnty. Highway Dist. v.
Magwire, 104 Idaho 656, 659, 662 P.2d 237, 240 (1983). To determine fair market value, courts
should consider all elements that an owner or a prospective purchaser could reasonably find
affect the land’s fair market price. State ex rel. Rich v. Halverson, 86 Idaho 242, 248, 384 P.2d
11480, 483 (1963). Grathol agreed that severance damages were to be based upon opinion
testimony about differences in the fair market value of the remainder before and after the taking.
The district court held that Grathol had zero severance damages because Grathol’s
evidence of a decrease in fair market value after ITD’s taking was unpersuasive. The court noted
that Sherwood valued the remainder’s before value at $2,940,300 and the after value at
$1,344,457. However, the court found this value testimony unpersuasive because it was based on
a 30-acre larger parcel and identified three different remainder acreages. Indeed, Sherwood used
a 30-acre larger parcel, which left Sherwood’s remainder at least 27 acres smaller than the
district court’s remainder size. The court also emphasized that Sherwood testified that the
remainder parcel’s value was $2.25 per square foot both before and after the taking and expressly
stated there was “zero severance” when asked if there was severance damage. The district court
also found Johnson’s severance damage conclusions contradictory and “based upon an
unexplained and mysterious methodology incorporating an assumed completion of Grathol’s
proposed development.” The court noted that Johnson also relied on a 30-acre larger parcel, not a
56.8 larger parcel. Thus, the court found that Grathol did not persuasively establish a decrease in
the remainder’s fair market value after the taking.
Grathol argues the district court erred because it should have considered testimony from
Geoffrey Reeslund and George Hedley that showed cost increases for future development.
Reeslund is the Vice President of the company that owns Grathol, and he is an architect that
designs potential commercial site plans. He testified that a utility connection to the western-most
remainder would cost $1 million after the taking. Hedley was ITD’s rebuttal expert. He is a
southern California developer who worked with ITD’s expert consultants on calculating the
project’s costs of development and feasibility. Hedley analyzed the cost to develop the property
both before and after the taking. Hedley testified that before the taking, development would cost
$7,103,000, or $4.92 per square foot. Hedley then testified that the development costs after the
taking would be $6,021,000, or $6.92 per square foot. Grathol argues that this unopposed
testimony of a $2 per square foot cost increase shows severance damages of $3,527,140.32.
The court did not mention Reeslund or Hedley’s testimony, but that is understandable
given that neither of them linked their testimony about costs to the project’s fair market value.
Reeslund was not designated as a valuation expert, and he did not give evidence about the
property’s value after the taking. Indeed, at trial the court indicated that without a specific dollar
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range for value, Reeslund’s testimony was not very probative. Similarly, Hedley’s development
cost per acre was not testimony of a decrease in fair market value. None of Hedley’s testimony
articulated the property’s fair market value after the taking. Therefore, despite the idea that
increased costs cause a decrease in fair market value, neither witness gave an opinion on how
much these costs would reduce the fair market value or what severance damages would result.
Increased costs do not necessarily mean that the fair market value has decreased.
Further, substantial and competent evidence supports the district court’s finding of no
severance damages. Sherwood stated that the remainder parcel’s value was $2.25 per square foot
both before and after the taking. He also expressly stated there was “zero severance” when asked
if there was severance damage. The court noted it was “extremely impressed” that Sherwood
never actually testified to any severance damage value because at the motion in limine hearing,
Grathol’s counsel stated that Sherwood would provide those numbers. Sherwood also never
referred to severance damages in his report, but instead gave a range of values for “difference
rounded.” The district court noted that by taking the “difference rounded” number, the court
could calculate severance damages, but “the report does not contain those numbers, much less
label these figures as ‘severance damages,’ and Sherwood did not proffer these numbers in his
trial testimony.” In fact, the court stated that Sherwood “carefully avoided stating that he has
computed a difference between the fair market value of his remainder before and after the take.”
Further, ITD’s experts both testified that the property did not suffer any severance damages. The
court noted that Pynes’s testimony was the most persuasive and had valued the remainder the
same before and after the taking. Neither Sherwood nor Johnson coherently or credibly linked
their testimony to fair market value for the district court. Further, Reeslund and Hedley’s
increased costs testimony was not linked to fair market value. Because of this lack of fair market
value testimony, the court could not consider Grathol’s claimed evidence of increased costs.
Thus, we hold substantial and competent evidence supports the district court’s finding of no
severance damages.
C. The district court did not abuse its discretion when it excluded testimony about Sylvan
Road.
During Johnson’s testimony, Grathol’s attorney asked him whether the proposed frontage
road named Sylvan Road would impact his opinion of the remainder’s value or use. ITD
objected, arguing that this was impermissible testimony because ITD had not alleged it was
building Sylvan Road as part of the case. ITD also argued that Johnson was not testifying to a
13
discrete value so he was testifying to a value decrease not reflected in his value figures. The
court allowed Johnson to answer, but only with a yes or no. The district court therefore limited
Johnson’s response to simply affirming that he thought that road would have an impact on value.
Grathol argues the district court erred in disallowing Johnson’s testimony about Sylvan
Road because the court expanded its summary judgment ruling that struck Grathol’s claim for
damages based on a taking of Sylvan Road. When reviewing the trial court’s evidentiary rulings,
this Court applies an abuse of discretion standard. Hurtado v. Land O’Lakes, Inc., 153 Idaho 13,
18, 278 P.3d 415, 420 (2012). The appellant must demonstrate both the trial court’s abuse of
discretion and that the error affected a substantial right. Id.The district court held more than once that ITD was not taking land for Sylvan Road on
Grathol’s property. When the court held a hearing on ITD’s motion for order granting
possession, the court stated that it found ITD was not condemning any land for Sylvan Road. The
district court then granted ITD’s motion for possession and issued an order of condemnation,
which this Court affirmed in Department of Transportation v. HJ Grathol (Grathol I), 153 Idaho
87, 93, 278 P.3d 957, 963 (2012). In Grathol I, Grathol argued that the condemnation order was
invalid as it did not clearly describe the property rights acquired. 153 Idaho at 91, 278 P.3d at
961. Grathol contended the description was not clear because ITD’s condemnation order
contained an express declaration that ITD was extending Sylvan Road through Grathol’s parcel
while the complaint did not address Sylvan Road. Id. This Court found the complaint and
condemnation order did not express any intent to condemn Grathol’s land for Sylvan Road. Id. at
92, 278 P.3d at 962. We further reasoned:
If Sylvan Road is extended to Roberts Road through Grathol’s property in the
future, then, at that time, the Board will be required to determine the just
compensation due for that portion of Grathol’s property that is necessary for the
project. At this time, this Court refuses to engage in such speculative
contemplation.
Id. In addition, the district court also granted ITD’s motion for summary judgment on Grathol’s
claim for a Sylvan Road taking and damages for that alleged taking. Thus, the district court
repeatedly held Grathol could not claim ITD was taking Sylvan Road and could not claim
damages based on that taking.
Grathol argues that Johnson’s testimony about Sylvan Road would have provided
credible support for his severance damage opinions. However, any testimony about the value
impact of a speculative, future road would be irrelevant because the district court found there
14
was no evidence of a taking, this Court in Grathol I held that there was no evidence ITD claimed
such a taking, and the district court granted ITD summary judgment on Grathol’s claim that there
were damages from such a taking. Thus, the district court did not err by excluding Johnson’s
additional testimony about an alleged impact from Sylvan Road.
In addition, the district court allowed Johnson to testify that Sylvan Road impacted the
property’s use and his valuation opinion. While he was not allowed to say how the road impacted
his opinion, Johnson’s severance damage figures were not expressly based on Sylvan Road.
Johnson was able to testify about his opinion of the before and after value of the remainder of the
Grathol property, including severance damages. The district court found his testimony
unpersuasive because it was confusing and not supported by market data or evidence. Given that
Johnson testified about his values for severance damages and the district court did not find them
persuasive, as well as the fact the district court repeatedly found ITD was not taking property for
Sylvan Road, we find the district court did not err in limiting Johnson’s testimony.
D. The district court erred in its attorney fees award, but properly awarded costs.
In eminent domain actions, the award of attorney fees is within the trial court’s sound
discretion. Ada Cty. Highway Dist. v. Acarrequi, 105 Idaho 873, 877, 673 P.2d 1067, 1071
(1983). This Court therefore considers “(1) whether the trial court correctly perceived the issue
as one of discretion; (2) whether the trial court acted within the boundaries of this discretion and
consistent with the legal standards applicable to the specific choices available to it; and (3)
whether the trial court reached its decision by an exercise of reason.” Telford Lands LLC v. Cain,
154 Idaho 981, 992, 303 P.3d 1237, 1248 (2013) (quoting Rockefeller v. Grabow, 139 Idaho 538,
545, 82 P.3d 450, 457 (2003)).
We have adopted the view that attorney fees may be awarded to the condemnee without a
finding that the action was brought and pursued frivolously, unreasonably, or without
foundation. Acarrequi, 105 Idaho at 876–77, 673 P.2d 1070–71. In Acarrequi, this Court
delineated factors to guide courts in determining whether to award attorney fees. Id. at 877–78,
673 P.2d at 1071–72. The Court noted that these factors “are matters for consideration and not
rigid guidelines within which a trial court is required to operate.” Id. at 877, 673 P.2d at 1071. In
addition to considering the Acarrequi factors, the trial court must apply I.R.C.P. 54(d)(1)(B) to
determine the prevailing party. State ex rel. Ohman v. Ivan H. Talbot Family Trust, 120 Idaho
825, 829, 820 P.2d 695, 699 (1991). Rule 54(d)(1)(B)’s provisions only apply to the extent that
15
they are not in conflict with the Acarrequi factors. State ex rel. Smith v. Jardine, 130 Idaho 318,
321, 940 P.2d 1137, 1140 (1997).
In the district court, ITD requested attorney fees based only on the Acarrequi factors. The
district court instead applied Idaho Code section 12-117 and denied ITD’s request for attorney
fees. The court found section 12-117 applied as the exclusive source of awarding fees to a state
entity. The court then held it did not need to reach the Acarrequi factors and the prevailing party
analysis because Grathol acted with a reasonable basis in fact or law under section 12-117. As to
costs, the district court stated it could award costs to condemnors as the prevailing party. The
court found ITD was the prevailing party under the Acarrequi factors and I.R.C.P. 54(d)(1)(B)
and awarded costs as a matter of right. The court also awarded ITD its discretionary costs for
Pynes, ITD’s appraiser. Thus, the district court awarded ITD $24,298.56 in costs.
Grathol argues the district court cannot award attorney fees or costs to ITD because an
award to a condemnor would unconstitutionally reduce the landowner’s award merely because
the landowner puts the government to its proof. Grathol argues there is no authority anywhere for
such an award. ITD cross-appeals the district court’s denial of its attorney fees request, arguing
both costs and attorney fees can be awarded to a condemnor. ITD argues that the court
mistakenly applied Idaho Code section 12-117 to attorney fees, but correctly awarded costs using
the Acarrequi factors.
Grathol’s appeal and ITD’s cross appeal will be addressed together. The first issue is
what statute the court should have used for the award of attorney fees. Idaho Code section 12-
117 allows attorney fees to the prevailing party “in any proceeding involving as adverse parties a
state agency or a political subdivision and a person. . . .” In August 2012, the district court
decided to apply Idaho Code section 12-117 based upon this Court’s precedent that section 12-
117 was the exclusive source of awarding attorney fees to state agencies. In March 2013, this
Court held that “section 12-117(1) is not the exclusive basis upon which to seek an award of
attorney fees against a state agency or political subdivision, but attorney fees may be awarded
under any other statute that expressly applies to a state agency or political subdivision, such as
sections 12-120(3) and 12-121.” Syringa Networks, LLC v. Idaho Dep’t of Admin., 155 Idaho 55,
67, 305 P.3d 499, 511 (2013). Thus, we no longer hold that section 12-117 is the exclusive basis
for state agencies to seek attorney fees.
16
The standard for awarding attorney fees on other claims in a lawsuit differs from the
standard for awarding attorney fees on a condemnation claim. Telford Lands, 154 Idaho at 992,
303 P.3d at 1248. Idaho Code section 12-121 applies to condemnation actions. Id. ITD requested
fees under the Acarrequi factors, and thus under section 12-121. 2 Because ITD requested fees
under section 12-121 and not 12-117, and section 12-121 applies to this case, the district court
abused its discretion by applying section 12-117.
The issue then becomes to whom courts can award attorney fees in condemnation actions.
ITD contends that Acarrequi can apply to attorney fees for both the condemnee and the
condemnor. Grathol contends that attorney fees cannot be awarded to a condemnor. Despite
never awarding fees to a condemnor, we have left open that possibility. We stated in Acarrequi:
“Except in the most extreme and unlikely situation, we cannot envision an award of attorneys’
fees and costs to a condemnor.” 105 Idaho at 878, 673 P.2d at 1072. In subsequent decisions, this
Court did not limit or withdraw that statement. See Jardine, 130 Idaho at 321, 940 P.2d at 1140.
Indeed, we reassert that courts can award attorney fees to a condemnor in extreme and unlikely
situations.
The issue is then how a district court determines when a case is extreme and unlikely.
ITD proposes that to be an extreme and unlikely case, the condemnor must have met and far
exceeded all of the Acarrequi factors that applied to the condemnor, the condemnor must have
advocated a reasonable position, and the condemnee must have pursued or defended the case
unreasonably.
We adopt a test similar to ITD’s proposal. First, the condemnor must have met all of
Acarrequi factors that applied to the condemnor. Second, the condemnor’s case must have been
brought reasonably, not frivolously, and have adequate foundation. Finally, the condemnee must
meet the standard in section 12-121. Fees can be awarded under section 12-121 only when the
court “finds, from the facts presented to it, that the case was brought, pursued or defended
frivolously, unreasonably or without foundation.” I.R.C.P. 54(e)(1). When a district court
decides in its discretion that a case meets all three of these elements, the condemnor recovers its
attorney fees.
2
Grathol argues that ITD did not request attorney fees under section 12-121. Indeed, at the attorney fee hearing
ITD’s counsel stated that “[ITD] is not seeking attorneys’ fees and costs under Idaho Code 12-121, as suggested by
Grathol, but rather under the particularized rules for costs and attorney’s fees that is – that applies to condemnation
cases.” ITD went on to articulate the Acarrequi factors, which makes it apparent that ITD was requesting fees on
this basis. Thus, ITD properly requested attorney fees.
17
ITD argues that this is an extreme and unlikely case. 3 However, the determination of
whether the case is extreme and unlikely is within the district court’s discretion. Indeed, the
district court’s finding under section 12-117 that Grathol’s claims were reasonably based in law
and fact may indicate that the district court will not hold the case was brought frivolously,
unreasonably, or without foundation. 4 However, the district court makes that factual finding, not
this Court. Also, apportionment of attorney fees is appropriate for those elements of the case that
were frivolous, unreasonable, and without foundation. Idaho Military Historical Soc’y, Inc. v.
Maslen, 156 Idaho 624, 632, 329 P.3d 1072, 1080 (2014). Accordingly, we vacate the district
court’s denial of ITD’s attorney fees based on section 12-117 and remand for the district court to
analyze attorney fees within the parameters we have outlined.
As to costs, the district court awarded costs to ITD. The court interpreted Idaho Code
section 7-718’s language to allow costs as a matter of right to the prevailing party who meets the
Acarrequi factors without any additional findings. The court determined ITD was the prevailing
party and followed section 7-718 to award costs with an analysis of the Acarrequi factors. The
district court did not consider whether Grathol acted with a reasonable basis in law or fact. The
district court also awarded ITD its discretionary costs for Pynes, one of ITD’s appraisers. Grathol
argues that the district court erred in awarding costs to ITD as a matter of right because the court
had already determined the case had a reasonable basis in law and fact under section 12-117.
As this opinion has already articulated, ITD is correct that it can be awarded costs as the
condemnor and that section 12-117’s requirement for a reasonable basis in law or fact does not
apply. Idaho Code section 7-718 provides: “Costs may be allowed or not, and, if allowed, may be
apportioned between the parties on the same or adverse sides in the discretion of the court.” This
plain language provides for the awarding of court costs, not attorney fees. Telford Lands, 154
Idaho at 992, 303 P.3d at 1248. However, this Court has indicated that costs cannot be awarded
using only the Acarrequi factors. In Acarrequi, this Court specified that “in the most extreme and
3
ITD exhaustively lists conduct it believes rises to “extreme.” ITD’s list included its belief that Grathol used
improper appraisal methods, claimed damages barred by law, constantly changed the rationale of its demands,
refused to provide expert disclosures, and provided expert opinions that had no foundation and were unexplainable.
4
The district court found that Grathol did not act without a reasonable basis in fact or law because Grathol’s larger
parcel legal argument was “novel and creative and certainly pushing the envelope,” but not unreasonable. The court
then noted that while the facts for highest and best use were vague and Grathol’s witnesses offered very little input
on fair market value, just because the facts were unpersuasive did not mean they were unreasonable. The court also
found that Grathol’s severance damage arguments were not unreasonable because they had some basis before
Johnson testified at trial that there were zero severance damages.
18
unlikely situation” a court could award “attorney fees and costs” to a condemnor. 105 Idaho at
878, 673 P.2d at 1072 (emphasis added). However, we overrule Acarrequi’s implication that the
extreme and unlikely situation applies to costs because the plain language of section 7-718
indicates that costs can be awarded to either party within the district court’s discretion. Thus, we
hold the district court properly awarded costs to ITD as a matter of right.
In addition, Grathol argues the district court erred in awarding discretionary costs to ITD
because the court did not make an express finding that Pynes’s testimony was necessary or
exceptional. A trial court has discretion to “award a prevailing party certain costs where there has
been ‘a showing that the costs are necessary and exceptional, reasonably incurred, and should in
the interests of justice be assessed against the adverse party.’” Hayden Lake Fire Prot. Dist. v.
Alcorn, 141 Idaho 307, 314, 109 P.3d 161, 168 (2005) (quoting I.R.C.P. 54(d)(1)(D)). A trial
court must make express findings as to why a party’s discretionary costs should or should not be
allowed. I.R.C.P. 54(d)(1)(D). Express findings comply with this requirement when they are
about the general character of the requested costs and whether those costs are necessary,
reasonable, exceptional, and in the interests of justice. Hayden Lake Fire Prot. Dist., 141 Idaho
at 314, 109 P.3d at 168. This Court has construed the “exceptional” cost requirement to include
those costs incurred because the nature of the case was itself exceptional. Id.Here, Pynes was one of ITD’s two valuation experts. While ITD had requested many
discretionary costs, the district court only awarded discretionary costs for Pynes. The court stated
that it found Pynes very helpful in sorting out issues that seemed “incomprehensible” to the
court. The court commented that the court needed Pynes’s straightforward testimony and “an
awful lot of stuff here made [Pynes] necessary.” In addition, the court found Pynes’s testimony
“extremely helpful because of the exceptional nature of this particular case.” The court supported
that finding with an explanation about why this case was exceptional. Thus, the court provided
express findings that the costs for Pynes were necessary and exceptional. Thus, we hold the
district court did not abuse its discretion in awarding discretionary costs for Pynes. We affirm the
district court’s award of costs.
E. ITD is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
ITD argues it is entitled to attorney fees on appeal under Idaho Code section 7-718, and
alternatively under sections 12-117 and 12-121. ITD argues that Grathol’s appeal lacks a basis in
law and fact, similar to the abuses ITD detailed at the district court level. ITD claims these
19
abuses include Grathol claiming the district court applied the improper larger parcel law,
misrepresenting the record and testimony, and trying to recover damages based on Sylvan Road.
ITD’s request for attorney fees under Idaho Code section 7-718 fails because that statute
applies only to costs. Telford Lands, 154 Idaho at 992, 303 P.3d at 1248. However, ITD requests
fees under section 12-121 also. Because this is an appeal of a final condemnation order, section
12-121 and the Acarrequi factors are the proper standard. Id. As articulated above, fees are only
awarded to a condemnor in an extreme and unlikely case.
The first element of an extreme and unlikely case is that the condemnor must be the
prevailing party and have met the Acarrequi factors. In Acarrequi, this Court delineated factors
to guide courts in determining the prevailing party and whether to award attorney fees. 105 Idaho
at 877–78, 673 P.2d at 1071–72. The court applies those factors and I.R.C.P. 54(d)(1)(B)’s
prevailing party analysis. State ex rel. Ohman v. Ivan H. Talbot Family Trust, 120 Idaho 825,
829, 820 P.2d 695, 699 (1991). Rule 54(d)(1)(B)’s provisions only apply to the extent that they
are not in conflict with the Acarrequi factors. Jardine, 130 Idaho at 321, 940 P.2d at 1140. Here,
the district court found ITD met the Acarrequi factors, and Grathol does not argue that ITD
failed to meet those factors. Thus, we similarly hold ITD met these factors.
We then consider who is the prevailing party on appeal. “In determining the prevailing
party, the court examines the final result obtained in relation to the relief sought, whether there
were multiple claims or issues, and the extent to which either party prevailed on each separate
issue or claim.” First State Bank of Eldorado v. Rowe, 142 Idaho 608, 615, 130 P.3d 1146, 1153
(2006). This Court has stated that, in considering all of the claims involved in an action, a court
examines the prevailing party question “from an overall view, not a claim-by-claim analysis.”
Crump v. Bromley, 148 Idaho 172, 174, 219 P.3d 1188, 1190 (2009) (quoting Shore v. Peterson,
146 Idaho 903, 914, 204 P.3d 1114, 1125 (2009)). ITD prevailed on the larger parcel issue, the
severance damage issue, the Sylvan Road evidentiary issue, and the cost issue. ITD prevailed on
its cross-appeal of the district court’s denial of attorney fees. ITD clearly prevailed overall in the
appeal. Because ITD met the Acarrequi factors and was the prevailing party, ITD has established
the first element of an extreme and unlikely case.
The second element of an extreme and unlikely case is that ITD’s claims must be
reasonable. Here, ITD’s argument that substantial and competent evidence supported the district
court’s judgment was reasonable. ITD also reasonably argued that the district court properly
20
limited testimony on Sylvan Road’s impact on severance damages. ITD reasonably argued that
the district court improperly decided fees could be awarded only under Idaho Code section 12-
117. Thus, ITD’s claims on appeal were reasonable and meet the second element of an extreme
and unlikely case.
The third element of an extreme and unlikely case is that Grathol’s claims must allow an
attorney fee award under Idaho Code section 12-121’s standard. That section “permits a court to
apportion and award reasonable attorney fees for claims that are brought or defended
unreasonably, frivolously, or without adequate foundation in fact or law.” Baird-Sallaz v. Sallaz,
157 Idaho 342, 347, 336 P.3d 275, 280 (2014) (citing Idaho Military Historical Soc’y v. Maslen,
156 Idaho 624, 632–33, 329 P.3d 1072, 1080–81 (2014)). “Such circumstances exist when an
appellant has only asked the appellate court to second-guess the trial court by reweighing the
evidence or has failed to show that the district court incorrectly applied well-established law.”
Snider v. Arnold, 153 Idaho 641, 645–46, 289 P.3d 43, 47–48 (2012).
We find that Grathol’s appeal was unreasonable. First, Grathol’s arguments about the
district court’s ruling on the larger parcel were false and misleading, did not show the district
court incorrectly applied well-established Idaho law, and did not show that the facts of this case
warranted any extension of Idaho law. Grathol argued that the district court ignored the idea that
the larger parcel could be 30 acres. 5 However, the district court expressly stated that it
considered Grathol’s evidence and argument that the parcel could be 30 acres and instead found
the preponderance of the evidence showed a 56.8 acre parcel. Hence, Grathol’s argument about
the larger parcel legal standard is completely irrelevant. The district court completely analyzed
the facts of the case when explaining its decision. Grathol also argued on appeal that there was
no evidence the property had unity of use, which was contrary to all evidence apart from its
appraiser’s confusing and non-credible testimony. Grathol’s arguments about witness testimony
simply asked this Court to re-weigh the evidence and second guess the trial court. Thus,
Grathol’s arguments about the larger parcel are unreasonable.
Similarly, Grathol’s arguments about severance damages only ask the Court to re-weigh
the evidence. Grathol’s own appraiser testified that the property suffered zero severance
damages, which the district court found credible. ITD’s appraisers also testified that Grathol
5
Grathol went as far to allege at oral argument before this Court that the district court preordained its decision
before finally admitting that perhaps instead the court simply minimized the importance of evidence.
21
suffered zero severance damages. Grathol argued on appeal that the district court ignored
Reeslund and Hedley’s testimony about cost increases. The district court did not address this
testimony. But that testimony was not linked to fair market value, and Grathol gave no reason
why this testimony would outweigh three appraisers that testified there were no severance
damages. Therefore, again Grathol asked this Court to re-weigh the evidence, which makes its
severance damage claims unreasonable.
Finally, Grathol’s argument that the district court should have allowed testimony about
Sylvan Road is completely unreasonable and frivolous. The district court repeatedly dismissed
claims that ITD was taking Sylvan Road and any damages associated with that taking. However,
Grathol continually tried to work that claim into the case. Even after this Court held in Grathol I
that the condemnation order and complaint did not indicate ITD was taking land for Sylvan
Road, Grathol tried to admit testimony that Sylvan Road impacted the property’s value overall.
Grathol then argued in its reply brief that ITD’s project made Sylvan Road a foregone
conclusion. Grathol argued this without any evidence at all. Again, the district court already
decided that Sylvan Road was not a foregone conclusion and was not part of this condemnation.
Grathol was completely unreasonable to argue this yet again without any evidence at all. There
was no evidence that ITD was taking Sylvan Road, and therefore Grathol had no reason to
continue its attempts to link that road to damages and argue about that linkage on appeal. Thus,
Grathol failed to show the district court incorrectly applied well-established law, which makes its
appeal unreasonable.
As to attorney fees, Grathol argued that fees and costs cannot be awarded to a condemnor
despite this Court stating the contrary in Acarrequi. Grathol also argued in its July 2013 reply
brief that the Court’s award was proper only under Idaho Code section 12-117 despite this
Court’s March 2013 holding in Syringa that section 12-117 was not exclusive. In sum, all of
Grathol’s arguments on appeal either ask this Court to second guess the trial court by reweighing
the evidence, or fail to show the district court incorrectly applied well-established law. Thus,
Grathol brought, pursued, and defended its appeal unreasonably. Because Grathol’s appeal was
unreasonable, ITD’s case was reasonable, and ITD prevailed and met the Acarrequi factors, this
is an “extreme and unlikely case.” Thus, we award ITD its reasonable attorney fees on appeal.
22
IV. CONCLUSION
We affirm the district court’s just compensation award. We vacate the district court’s
denial of ITD’s attorney fees and remand for further proceedings. We affirm the district court’s
award of costs and discretionary costs to ITD. Costs and attorney fees to ITD on appeal.
Justices EISMANN, HORTON and WALTERS, Pro Tem, CONCUR.
J. JONES, Justice, specially concurring.
I fully concur in the Court’s opinion but feel compelled to offer some comments on the
attorney fee issue. While a condemnee certainly has the right to challenge the reasonableness of a
compensation offer made by a condemnor, any such challenge should be within the limits of
reason. Here, Grathol clearly exceeded those limits, treating the condemnation proceeding as a
ride on the gravy train. Although Grathol purchased the entire 56.8 acres in May of 2008 for
$1,450,000 and although the market had declined from that time until November 11, 2010, the
date of the taking, Grathol sought as much as $3,093,360 at trial for the 16.314 acres taken by the
State. In its opening brief on appeal, Grathol states that Alan Johnson, Grathol’s Vice-President,
“testified that the value of the 16.314 acre take was $2,295,360,” and “that the severance
damages, added to the value of the take resulted [sic] just compensation owed in the range of
$2,633,360 to $3,093,360.” In its argument for severance damages based on the increased cost of
future development, Grathol proposed an entitlement to severance damages of $3,527,140.32. As
demonstrated in the Court’s opinion, these contentions were wholly without merit. Just from a
fairly plain common sense standpoint, the compensation award in the amount of $675,000 for
less than one third of the property that Grathol purchased for $1,450,000 in May 2008, just
before the collapse in real estate prices, was eminently reasonable.
The lamentable aspect of this case is that the State made a settlement offer to Grathol in
the amount of $1,100,000 on December 15, 2011. The trial began on March 5, 2012. The State’s
settlement offer was reasonable and timely within in the guidelines in Ada Cnty. Highway Dist.
v. Acarrequi, 105 Idaho 873, 878, 673 P.2d 1067, 1072 (1983) (an offer made by the condemnor
a reasonable time after the institution of the action and within ten percent of the amount of the
jury verdict is reasonable). Grathol declined to accept the offer, choosing to pursue litigation on
flawed facts and legal theories. Grathol asserted that it incurred attorney fees of $212,699 in the
litigation in district court, while the State claimed it incurred $724,136 in attorney fees,
$13,079.06 in costs as a matter of right, and $167,103.59 in discretionary costs, for a total of
23
$906,318.65. While the costs of defending would likely have been substantially less, had the
Attorney General’s office been properly funded and not obliged to seek the assistance of outside
counsel, even a much lesser expenditure would have been unnecessary if Grathol had not been
shooting for the moon. It is hard to conceive of any reasonable grounds for Grathol to spurn an
eminently reasonable settlement offer and drive up the costs of litigation for both sides. In my
mind, this is the type of “most extreme and unlikely situation” envisioned in Acarrequi that
would justify a fee award in favor of the condemnor at the trial level, as well as on appeal.
24