Louis Gill and Sons, a Corporation, Louis Gill, and Louis Gill, as of the Estate of Laura B. Gill v. United States

This case concerns the condemnation of 462.18 acres in Tulare County, California in connection with the Success Dam and Reservoir Project (Public Law 534, 78 Cong., 58 Stat. 887 ).

It was commenced by the filing of a complaint in condemnation by the United States on May 14, 1957. It was referred by the district court to a. Commission on May 12, 1959, and on August 9, 1960, the finding and report of the Commission was filed.

The Commission found:

Other than this, there is no finding as to the highest and best use and no disclosure as to the valuation principles utilized by the Commission or the elements of value taken into consideration.

On August 19, 1960, the United States filed its objections to the finding and report of the Commission based in part on the following grounds:

After hearing, the district court modified the findings of the Commission and reduced the award to $95,332.00. The district court did not view any portion of the property and based its findings entirely upon a review of the exhibits and the transcript of the proceedings before the Commission.

From the judgment entered by the district court pursuant to its findings and conclusions, the landowners…