Southern v. Cobb County

MacIntyre, P. J. 1. “Private property shall not be taken, or damaged, for public purposes, without just and adequate compensation being first paid.” Constitution of 1945, art. I, sec. Ill, par. I (Code, Ann., § 2-301). “Prospective and consequential damages resulting therefrom may also be taken into consideration, if the same are plain and appreciable; and on the other hand, the increase of the value of the land from the proposed public improvement may be considered, but in no case shall the owner be deprived of the actual damages by such estimated increase.” Code, § 36-506. In the instant case the jury awarded $100 actual damages for the value of the land taken, but found that the consequential damages were balanced off by the consequential benefits. The court entered judgment for $100 in accordance with the verdict. 2. “Jurors are not absolutely bound to accept as correct the opinions or estimates of witnesses as to the value of property, though uncontradicted by other testimony, but have the right to consider the nature of the property involved, together with any other fact or circumstance properly within their knowledge, throwing light upon the question, and they may, by their verdict, fix either a lower or a higher value upon the *59 property than, that stated in the opinions or estimates of the witnesses. Georgia Northern Ry. Co. v. Battle, 22 Ga. App. 665, 666 (97 S. E. 94), and cit. See also Baker v. Richmond City Mill Works, 105 Ga. 225 (31 S. E. 426); McCarthy v. Lazarus, 137 Ga. 282 (2) (73 S. E. 493).” McLendon v. LaGrange, 47 Ga. App. 690, 691 (3) (171 S. E. 307). See also Chalker v. Raley, 73 Ga. App. 415 (37 S. E. 2d, 160). Applying the foregoing ruling to the facts of the case at bar, this court can not hold that the verdict was unauthorized by any evidence. Decided November 18, 1948. O. C. Hancock, for plaintiffs in error. J. G. Roberts, contra. Judgment affirmed. Gardner and Townsend, JJ., concur.