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Franklinton, LA | About 40 years back I worked as an expert witness on a lawsuit in Red River Parish, LA. You can check Huckabee & Herring VS Central LA Electric Company. CLECO wanted to install one mile of high voltage transmission lines with steel towers across a cotton field. Each tower was held in place with 4 guide wires.
We listed the trips across a field required to produce a cotton crop. Then we measured the time required to turn the 8-row equipment around the towers and guide wires. The farmers also claimed extra weed control cost around the towers and reduced yield because they could not effectively control insects under the power line and around the towers. The judge in a non-jury trial awarded the farmers a little over $400,000 dollars for the one-mile easement. The appeals court cut the award to a little over $200,000. CLECO fired their lawyer and got the judge defeated at the next election!
The power company can probably use the laws in your state to get an easement. However, they must pay for the easement and the increased cost of farming the land. In the Red River Parish case the judge computed increased farming cost from the farmers current age until they retired at age 65.
Edited by DRester 2/26/2024 18:46
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Power poles in fields
