A jury awarded $1.2 million to the owners of a former auto body shop in Dover, N.J., who lost their land and business after it was condemned by the state.
The civil jury in Morristown, N.J., awarded $1.2 million to Peter and Maria Kavrazonis as just compensation for the state commissioner of transportation taking their site for use in a major realignment of Routes 46 and 15, according to the DailyRecord.com.
The couple’s attorney told the Web site that the trial centered on how much money the couple should receive as fair compensation after the state filed its condemnation action in October 2007.
The state argued that the value of the commercial property, which contained a two-bay repair shop, office and billboard space, was $700,000, the Web site reported. But the jury sided with the couple’s attorney and testimony from their appraiser that the property was worth $1.2 million.
The repair shop was torn down recently as part of a $48.5-million roadway realignment and bridge replacement project.
