Opinion

Hoffman v. Commonwealth

  • 422 Pa. 144
  • 221 A.2d 315
  • 1966 Pa. LEXIS 537
Court
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Filed
Jun 24, 1966
Status
Published
Author
Cohen
On the bench
Musmanno, Jones, Cohen, Eagen, O'Brien, Roberts
Cited by
18 cases
Authority
More cited than 9.0%

The opinion

Dissenting Opinion by

Mr. Justice Cohen:

Section 705 of the Code, Act of June 22, 1964, P. L. 84, §705, does not permit the expert to testify as to “reproduction cost” alone. The Code only permits an expert to testify as to reproduction cost less depreciation or obsolescence. It is for that reason that I would not permit the condemnee to testify as to “reproduction cost.” Nor would I permit the condemnee to testify as to reproduction cost less depreciation or obsolescence. While an owner may testify to market value, neither the Code nor logic qualifies him to testify as to the highly technical requirements necessary to establish any worthwhile data on depreciation or obsolescence. Thus, Price v. Commonwealth, 205 Pa. Superior Ct. 142 , 208 A. 2d 23 (1965), in no way supports the majority’s position that the owner may testify to the “reproduction cost” of property taken.

The legislature, when it adopted the Code, had an opportunity to permit such testimony by a condemnee— it did not so do and I would not permit it by judicial fiat.

Mr. Justice Jones joins in this dissenting opinion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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