Mo. court upholds part of eminent domain law

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld part of a 2006 law establishing a bonus payment if property taken through eminent domain has been owned by the same family for at least 50 years.

The case came from St. Louis County, where officials filed a petition in 2009 to condemn 15 acres for a highway extension.

That property had been deeded to Arthur Novel in 1904. His descendants and the county did not agree on proper compensation and three condemnation commissioners were appointed. The family disagreed with the commissioners' conclusion and requested a jury trial. They were awarded $1.3 million plus an additional $650,000 because of how long the land has been owned by the family.

St. Louis County appealed, and the Missouri Supreme Court upheld in a 6-0 ruling Tuesday.