Date: 12-12-2008

Case Style: Clear Channel Outdoors v. Harris County

Case Number:

Judge: Jacqueline Lucci Smith

Court: District Court, Harris County

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Defendant's Attorney: First Assistant County Attorney John Barnhill

Description: Clear Channel Outdoors sued Harris County on an inverse condemnation theory claiming that the County violated the Texas Constitution when it built a ramp linking the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to Metro's Addicks Park & Ride that blocked motorists' view of a billboard owned by Plaintiff. Clear Channel's appraiser pegged the value of the billboard and the easement at about $1 million. Harris County's appraisal set the value at about $636,000.

The dispute involved a visibility easement, bought by Clear Channel when it erected the billboard in 2001, that set a 25-foot height limit for any structures on the neighboring property. The easement transferred with the neighboring property when Harris County acquired it two years later for the ramp project.

The ramp ended up being 28 feet high.

Outcome: Settled for $525,000.00.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: