State v. Boone

Decision Date12 December 1963
Docket Number4 Div. 159
Citation276 Ala. 16,158 So.2d 658
PartiesSTATE of Alabama v, E. V. BOONE et al.
CourtAlabama Supreme Court

Homer W. Cornett and Jos. W. Smith, Sp. Asst. Attys. Gen., for appellant.

J. Pelham Ferrell and Roy H. Phillips, Phenix City, for appellees.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant instituted proceedings in the Probate Court of Russell County to condemn for highway purposes approximately ten acres of land belonging to appellees. The latter appealed to the Circuit Court of Russell County from the judgment or award in the probate court, and appellant here appeals from the judgment of the circuit court. The award in the circuit court was $20,000.00.

Appellant filed a motion for new trial in the circuit court. The trial judge overruled the motion. This ruling is here assigned as error.

An assignment of error as here that the trial court improperly refused to grant a new trial justifies consideration of any ground stated with sufficient definiteness to direct the court's attention to the alleged erroneous ruling, and the court may consider any ground of the motion which is clear and adequately argued in brief by appellant. Code of Alabama 1940, Title 7, § 764, as amended by Act No. 57, General Acts of Alabama 1949, page 81; Popwell v. Shelby County, 272 Ala. 287, 130 So.2d 170 , 87 A.L.R.2d 1148; Fuller v. Darden, 274 Ala. 447, 149 So.2d 805 .

Evidence that the affected area was adaptable as a residential subdivision at the time of the taking was admissible and admitted. W. T. Smith Lumber Co. v. McKenzie, 256 Ala. 496, 55 So.2d 919 , .

Ground 1 of the motion asserts that the verdict of the jury is not sustained by the great preponderance of the evidence, while Grounds 3, 4, and 8 contend that the verdict is excessive. These grounds are not well taken. Mr. Mark Fretwell, called by appellant as an expert witness, testified that the consumed area was worth $10,000.00. Mr. E. V. Boone, one of the appellees, testified that the land condemned (9.93 acres) was worth $4,500.00 per acre at the time of the taking, and that his remaining land would be damaged in the amount of $9,000.00. A Mr. Mears, a witness for appellees, after qualifying as an expert, testified that the land taken was worth $24,000.00, and that the damage to the remaining land was $5,000.00 A Mr. Hilyer, for appellees, testified that the value of the condemned area was $30,000.00, and damage to the remaining land was $5,250.00. The foregoing evidence was sufficient to sustain the jury's verdict of $20,000.00.

Ground 2 of the motion that the verdict of the jury is contrary to the law of the case is without merit. It is not sufficiently specific. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Burkett, 207 Ala. 344, 92 So. 456 .

The ground of the motion that the verdict of the jury is contrary to the law and the evidence presents no other question than a consideration of the evidence to see if allowing all reasonable presumptions in favor of the correctness of the verdict, the evidence against the verdict is so decided as to clearly convince the court that it is wrong and unjust. McDuffie & Sons v. Weeks, 9 Ala.App. 282, 63 So. 739 . In view of the evidence to which we have alluded, the trial court was not convinced, nor are we, that the verdict is...

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14 cases
  • Johnston v. Bridges
    • United States
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • February 24, 1972
    ...v. Brook,274 Ala. 462, 149 So.2d 809. And, adverse rulings not specifically assigned, will not be considered on appeal. State v. Boone, 276 Ala. 16, 158 So.2d 658; Tidwell v. Town of Town Creek, 264 Ala. 330, 87 So.2d 646; Meadors v. Haralson, 226 Ala. 413, 147 So. Likewise, where a brief d......
  • Board of Zoning Adjustment of the City of Mobile v. Dauphin Upham Joint Venture
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
    • December 6, 1996
    ...So.2d at 1111, 518 So.2d at 727 (emphasis added). While evidence of "best use" is pivotal in a condemnation case, see State v. Boone, 276 Ala. 16, 158 So.2d 658 (1963), and highly relevant in a rezoning case, see Allen v. Axford, 285 Ala. 251, 231 So.2d 122 (1969), it is entitled to little ......
  • Jones v. Wise
    • United States
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • August 15, 1968
    ...out so the court's attention will be directed to them. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Burkett, 207 Ala. 344, 92 So. 456; State v. Boone, 276 Ala. 16, 158 So.2d 658; Danley v. Marshall Lumber & Mill Co., 277 Ala. 551, 173 So.2d No reversible error has been presented. Affirmed. LIVINGSTON, C.J......
  • State v. McDaniel
    • United States
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • February 19, 1970
    ...These grounds are too general to invite review. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Burkett, 207 Ala. 344, 92 So. 456; State v. Boone, 276 Ala. 16, 158 So.2d 658; Danley v. Marshall Lumber & Mill Co., 277 Ala. 551, 173 So.2d Ground 3 of the motion for a new trial asserts the verdict is contrary t......
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