City & County of Honolulu v. BONDED INVEST. CO., LTD.

507 P.2d 1084, 54 Haw. 385, 1973 Haw. LEXIS 196
CourtHawaii Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 12, 1973
Docket5243
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 507 P.2d 1084 (City & County of Honolulu v. BONDED INVEST. CO., LTD.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City & County of Honolulu v. BONDED INVEST. CO., LTD., 507 P.2d 1084, 54 Haw. 385, 1973 Haw. LEXIS 196 (haw 1973).

Opinions

[386]*386OPINION OF THE COURT BY

KOBAYASHI, J.

On May 23, 1969, pursuant to the eminent domain provisions of HRS § 101, the City and County of Honolulu (City), filed condemnation proceedings to acquire two contiguous parcels of beach front land located between Farrington Highway and the ocean at Waianae, Oahu.

The subject properties are part of lands purchased by Bonded Investment Company, Ltd., from Mokuleia Ranch and Land Company, Ltd. The properties consist of two parcels: parcel 63 with an area of 73,616 square feet and parcel 64 with an area of 48,115 square feet, respectively, as shown on Maps 4 and 5 of Land Court Application 1827 for the Maili Beach Park Extension. Bonded Investment sold the properties to Antonio Ruis Salcedo and Satoru Iinuma by agreement of sale. Parcel 63 was subsequently sold by sub-agreement of sale to Leroy Robert Allen and Hiroko Allen, the condemnees and cross-appellants in this proceeding. An option to purchase parcel 64 was also acquired by the condemnees from Salcedo and was exercised in October of 1968.

[387]*387After securing the above rights to the subject properties the cross-appellants proceeded to take steps necessary to develop and market a 72-unit, nine-story beach front condominium on parcel 63 called the Maili Beach House, and a 56-unit, 14-story beach front condominium on parcel 64 called the Maili Beach Tower.

On the date of summons cross-appellants had already obtained a feasibility and study appraisal for financing purposes, working drawings for improvements, satisfactory financial arrangements for the proposed construction and all necessary legal documentation to establish a Horizontal Property Regime for the Maili Beach House on parcel 63. Upon issuance of the final report from the Real Estate Commission all units were sold and placed in escrow, a firm construction contract was made, and a building permit was acquired. All necessary steps were accomplished save the construction of the improvements. Similar steps were being taken to develop the Maili Beach Tower although no sales had been made.

On March 17, 1970, the City deposited $230,900 with the clerk of the court. On April 10, 1970, the City deposited $232,000, representing the estimated just compensation and damages to be paid for the acquisition of parcel 64. The parties stipulated for a withdrawal of $232,000 and immediate possession of parcel 64 by the City.

On May 1, 1970, a stipulation for the withdrawal of the $230,900 was entered into, said amount representing a partial deposit on account of the City’s estimate of just compensation and damages for parcel 63.

On August 7, 1970, the City deposited the additional sum of $377,100 on account of parcel 63. On August 25, 1970, the parties stipulated for the withdrawal of the $377,100 and immediate possession of parcel 63 by the City.

After trial, the jury awarded the condemnees $491,981.28 for parcel 63 and $250,010.50 for parcel 64. [388]*388Subsequent to the verdict, the trial court held hearings on June 29 and 30, 1971, because of dispute as to the verdict entered. The trial court entered its judgment on the hearings on August 18, 1971, and entered its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on the matter of blight of summons damages. The court held that, inasmuch as the verdict of $491,981.28 for parcel 63 was less than the City’s estimated deposit of $608,000, the condemnees could retain the $608,000, and disregarded the jury’s verdict.

The following points of appeal merit our consideration. Condemnees claim that the trial court erred:

1. in limiting the use of evidence of profits in determining just compensation;
2. in refusing to strike the testimony of John Lockhart;
3. in refusing the testimony of Ray Hambleton and John Hulten; and
4. in instructing the jury as to the use of evidence of profits.

The City also appeals, alleging that the trial court erred:

1. in allowing the condemnees to retain the excess deposit on parcel 63 as the City’s estimate of just compensation;
2. in not setting off the excess deposit on parcel 63 against the deposit deficiency on parcel 64;
3. in determining the proper interest rate to be used to compute blight of summons damages; and
4. in disregarding the day of deposit when calculating the period for blight of summons damage.

[389]*389THE CONDEMNEES’ APPEAL

Profits

Cross-appellants allege that the trial court erred in limiting the use of evidence of profits in determining just compensation for the parcels taken. In fact, evidence of profits was allowed by the trial court with respect to parcel 63. Condemnees failed to allege where the trial court specifically limited the use of evidence of profits with regard to parcel 63. In dispute is the admissibility of such evidence of profits with regard to parcel 64.

In Hawaii Housing Authority v. Rodrigues, 43 Haw. 195 (1959), this court held that it was error to allow expenses incurred by the landowner in connection with a proposed residential subdivision of land and anticipated profit in the event the subdivision was completed, as part of just compensation. Later, in State v. Chang, 50 Haw. 195, 436 P.2d 3 (1967), this court discussed Rodrigues, stating that the expenses incurred and anticipated profits were too uncertain and conjectural to be considered. Rodrigues was then modified when we held that expenditures made toward the development of the land were admissible to show enhancement of the value of land in determining fair market value. We did not hold, as condemnees allege, that such expenses were per se recoverable as part of just compensation. We made no similar modification with regard to anticipated profits.

We are of the opinion that the expected profits on parcel 63 were not speculative. Condemnees had already procured all necessary financing, drawn up plans for the proposed construction, dedicated the property to a Horizontal Property Regime, entered into contracts to sell all the units, and entered into a firm construction contract to build the improvements. Furthermore, all sales and proceeds of sale were in escrow awaiting construction of the Made Beach House. Condemnees’ right to receipt of profits had become legally enforcible and would have come to fruition but for the condemnation [390]*390proceedings. The conjecture, uncertainty and speculation, inherent in anticipated profits of an incomplete project as in parcel 64, are not present with regard to parcel 63 and consequently evidence of such profits was properly received.

Though substantial preparation for the sale of parcel 64 had been made, no contracts of sale for the units were made. Thus, profits here could clearly be classed as speculative. Condemnees allege that evidence of profits may be admissible to show enhancement of the value of the land. We disagree.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
507 P.2d 1084, 54 Haw. 385, 1973 Haw. LEXIS 196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-county-of-honolulu-v-bonded-invest-co-ltd-haw-1973.