Maynard

On August 1, 1963, plaintiff The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Richmond filed a complaint in eminent domain against defendant John Maynard, as administrator of the estates of Alvin and Mary Maynard. The property sought was owned by the above-mentioned estates and situated within the boundaries of an area selected for redevelopment.

Defendant’s answer, which was filed on September 25, 1963, alleged that the property in question was valued at $9,500 and sought judgment in that amount.

The pretrial order, dated December 26, 1963, indicates that no appearance was made by defendant’s counsel. Said order provides that the sole issue in dispute is the fair market value of the property as of August 1,1963.

Trial was had on May 25, 1964. Plaintiff’s expert witness testified that the fair market value of the property in question was $3,700 on August 1, 1963, the date on which summons was issued in the instant action.

Defendant was allowed, over plaintiff’s repeated objcetions, to produce evidence that the property in the area had substantially deteriorated in value subsequent to the institution of the redevelopment project in I960; that plaintiff’s establishing of the boundaries…