Arkansas Appeals Court Upholds $3 Million Land Compensation Award After 11-Year Dispute

The Arkansas Court of Appeals has upheld a $3 million jury award in favor of the William Major Lewis Trust, concluding an 11-year legal battle regarding the acquisition of 1.62 acres of land in Conway. The case, *Arkansas State Highway Commission v. Lewis*, centers on the impact of a state highway project on the trust's commercial property.

Case Background

• Incident Date: August 7, 2015, when the Arkansas State Highway Commission condemned portions of the property to widen Dave Ward Drive (Highway 286).
• Initial Deposit: The commission deposited $417,825 as compensation.
• The Conflict: The trust argued that the project restricted direct commercial access, necessitating the construction of new roads—specifically a relocated Amity Road—at a cost of millions. The commission argued these roads would have been necessary for development regardless of the project.

Legal Outcome

On October 28, 2026, the appeals court affirmed the June 2024 jury verdict. The court determined that evidence regarding the costs of restoring access was admissible to help the jury calculate the loss in market value of the remaining property. The court also upheld the award of attorney's fees, noting that the final verdict exceeded the commission’s initial deposit by more than the 20% threshold required by law.

Dissenting Opinion

Judge Brandon J. Harrison dissented, questioning whether the road-building evidence should have been admitted. He expressed concern regarding the burden on taxpayers for development costs that might have been the responsibility of the landowners even without the highway project.

Interested parties can review the case via the official Arkansas court records or the published opinion on legal databases like Justia.