Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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This bill would require that court judgments against a condemnor government following a jury trial would include (in addition to the jury verdict of just and adequate condemnation) the condemnees' attorney's fees, expert witness fees, and other trial preparation expenses. As drafted, the government would be responsible for these expenses regardless of whether the jury verdict favors the condemnee or not. Thus, even if the jury agreed with the government's evidence of the appropriate level of compensation for a condemnation (and rejected the condemnees' evidence), the government would still be responsible for these fees and expenses of the property owner and other condemnees. |
