Expert Throwdown

The Mian Devel. Corp. v. State of Texas involved an epic “battle of the experts” arising from the condemnation of some parking for the Sterling Hotel, a large hotel complex on I-35 near downtown Dallas. The hotel’s owners offered experts calculating compensation of $13,600,101 or $19,100,000; the State offered experts calculating compensation at $1,027,927 or $764,970, and also called an expert who said the Sterling was an unviable business. The jury awarded damages of $1,186,350 and the owner appealed. The Fifth Court affirmed in a detailed review of these experts’ testimony, discussing, inter alia: (1) the line between unreliable methodology (admissibility) and material for cross-examination (weight) (pages 10-11); (2) the concept and legal definition of fair market value (page 13); (3) five evidentiary issues about objecting to discussion of material relied upon by an expert (pages 18-19); and (4) throughout, the accepted methodologies and data resources used in this area of law. No. 05-17-01385-CV (July 18, 2019) (mem. op.).