I concur with the majority in affirming the judgment of the trial court in this case, but I do so only in recognition of this court’s limitations in appellate jurisdiction.
I recognize that this court is committed to the ‘ ‘ substantial evidence” rule in jury cases and if there is any substantial evidence to support the verdict of a jury, we affirm the judgment rendered thereon. Hot Springs Street Railway Company v. Hill, 198 Ark. 319, 128 S.W. 2d 369. Except, of course, in such cases where the verdict is rendered on an erroneous instruction, or under the influence of passion or prejudice, or where the amount of the verdict and judgment shocks the sense of justice. Ark. Stat. Ann. § 27-1903 (Repl. 1962); Ark. State Highway v. Carder, 228 Ark. 8, 305 S.W. 2d 330; Little Rock & Fort Smith Ry. Co. v. Baker, 39 Ark. 491.
The only point raised by the appellant in the case at bar is that “there was no substantial evidence in the record to support the verdict and the appellant is entitled to have judgment modified and the trial court directed to enter a judgment in the sum of $500.00 in favor of the appellees.” This court simply does not have the constitutional power, nor the legislative authority, to do what the appellant requests under the facts in the record before us in this case.
Arkansas Statutes Annotated § 27-1903 (1962) provides as follows:
“The verdict of any jury rendered in any action for the recovery of damages where the measure thereof is indeterminate or uncertain, shall not he held to he excessive, or he set aside as excessive except for some erroneous instruction, or upon evidence., aside from the amount of the damages assessed, that it was rendered under the influence of passion or prejudice. Provided, that the circuit judge presiding at the trial may on motion for a new trial filed by the losing party, if he deems the verdict excessive, indicate the amount of such excess, and thereupon, if the losing party shall offer to file and enter of record a release of all errors that may have accrued at the trial if the prevailing party will remit the amount so deemed excessive, and the prevailing party shall refuse to remit the same, the verdict shall be set aside.” (Emphasis supplied.)
In the case at bar the instructions to the jury are not questioned. There is no evidence, aside from the amount of the damages assessed, that would indicate the verdict was rendered under the influence of passion or prejudice, and since we are not legally permitted, physically able, or professionally qualified, to view the land and make our own appraisal, but must rely on the record before us, we are unable to say that the amount of the verdict shocks the sense of justice.
The sworn testimony of legally qualified expert appraisers, when based on legally acceptable and properly obtained information, has always been accepted as substantial evidence in arriving at the fair market value of the property appraised, and such testimony should he reliable in arriving at the fair market value and resulting damages in highway condemnation cases.
A matter that has become shocking, however, and leaves the substantial nature of evidence in considerable doubt, is the wide difference we find in the appraisals of the so-called experts in highway condemnation cases.
In the case at bar the highest damages estimated by Ihe’ Highway Commission’s expert witnesses were $500.00 and the lowest estimate by the property owners’ experts was $5,500.00. The property owner himself testified that his damage was $7,307.00. Judgment was entered upon the jury’s verdict for $5,500.00.
Tn the case of Arkansas State Highway Comm. v. Wahlgreen, 246 Ark. 472, 438 S.W. 2d 694, the highest estimate of damage by the Highway Commission’s experts was $9,000.00, and the lowest estimate by the land owner’s experts was $58,600.00. The owner himself testified that his damage was $83,000.00. Judgment was entered on the jury’s verdict for $60,000.00.
In the case of Arkansas State Highway Comm. v. Hawkins, 246 Ark. 55, 437 S.W. 2d 218, the highest estimate by the Highway Commission’s experts was $3,-250.00, and the lowest estimate by the land owner’s experts was $44,500.00. The owner’s own estimate of damage was $77,500.00. Judgment was entered on the jury’s verdict for $55,000.00.
In the case of Arkansas State Highway Comm. v. Mans, 245 Ark. 357, 432 S.W. 2d 478, the highest estimate of damage by the Highway Commission’s experts was $6,150.00, and the lowest estimate by the land owner’s experts was $21,300. The owner’s own estimate was $21,500.00. Judgment was entered on a jury verdict for $16,400.00.
In the case of Arkansas State Highway Comm. v. Dean, 244 Ark. 405, 425 S.W. 2d 306, the highest estimate of damage by tlie Highway Commission’s experts was an enhancement- in value of $44,600.00, and the lowest estimate by the land owner’s experts was $91,650.00 damages. The owner’s own estimate was $114,196.00. Judgment was entered on the verdict for $41,500.00.
In the case of Arkansas State Highway Comm. v. Darr, 246 Ark. 205, 437 S.W. 2d 463, the highest estimate of damages fixed by the Highway Commission’s expert appraisers was $23,500.00 and the lowest estimate fixed by the land owner’s appraisers was $38,500.00. The land owner estimated her own damage at $98,500.00. Judgment was entered on a jury verdict for $50,000.00.
All the verdicts rendered in the cases, supra, were within the bounds of the value evidence produced by the land owners and their expert witnesses and all the judgments, except in Dean and Darr, were sustained by some substantial evidence. In each of these cases all the expert appraisers used the same criteria in reaching their conclusions, both as to the value of lands taken and damage to flio remaining lands because of the taking. They simply had different opinions as to values, both as to enhancement and damages, and with the few comparable sales in the area, they reached widely different conclusions. Tn no case has the value of adjacent lands been enhanced by the construction of an interstate highway.
It is perfectly obvious from these cases that there is something wrong with the market value appraisals in highway condemnation cases and it would appear that either the Highway Commission, or the land owners, are using appraisers whose qualifications as experts exceed their ability as appraisers of the true market values of, and damage to, the lands involved. In any event, such differences in the opinions of experts cast considerable doubt on the substantial quality of their testimony, but having no better evidence in the records coming to this court on appeals, we have no alternative except to base our opinions on the evidence we do have. Consequently, I have no other alternative except to concur in the affirmance of the judgment in the ease at bar.