CONTRA COSTA WATER DIST. v. Vaquero Farms, Inc.

Caution

1997 Cal. App. LEXIS 859·58 Cal. App. 4th 883·68 Cal. Rptr. 2d 272·97 Daily Journal DAR 13277·97 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8216

Court of Appeal of CaliforniaOctober 24, 1997A072255California7,602 words

Opinion

Ruvolo, J.

Introduction

In this eminent domain proceeding, Contra Costa Water District (Water District) acquired approximately 3,500 acres of 6,000 acres owned by Vaquero Farms, Inc. (Vaquero) to be used by the Water District for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project (Reservoir Project). The issues on appeal involve the compensation awarded Vaquero for the taking of the property. Specifically, Vaquero contends: 1) the Water District must condemn its windpower rights, with a corresponding legal obligation to pay just compensation, even though the Water District chose to sever the property’s wind-power rights and reserve them to Vaquero; 2) the court erred in failing to award damages for the Water District’s unreasonable precondemnation activities under Klopping v. City of Whittier (1972) 8 Cal.3d 39 [ 104 Cal.Rptr. 1 , 500 P.2d 1345 ]; and 3) the jury’s award of $1 million in severance damages for the diminution in value of the property remaining in Vaquero’s ownership was unsupported by the evidence.

We conclude it was permissible for the Water District to sever and reserve to Vaquero its windpower rights. We also affirm the trial court’s finding that Vaquero was not entitled to…

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Parties

CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT
Plaintiff
VAQUERO FARMS, INC.
Defendant

Judges

Ruvolo

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