close

Jury awards couple $1.3M in Southern Beltway case

2 min read

A Washington County jury Wednesday awarded $1,301,500 to former residents of Morganza Road, Cecil Township, whose property stood in the path of a proposed highway known as the Southern Beltway.

Frank and Judith Barie Cservak owned two lots in the 3800 block of Morganza Road. On one lot stood their home, a 3,850-square-foot, custom-built residence with an outdoor entertainment area and outdoor fireplace, pool, combination barn and shop, art studio and garage with music room. They regarded their additional 3 1/2-acre lot as an investment property.

More than 10 years ago, the Cservaks and their neighbors were formally notified by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission of a Southern Beltway interchange planned for the vicinity. The turnpike commission gave homeowners the option of staying in their homes until the highway is built or acquiring their property.

They claimed the Turnpike Commission “carved out” the value of their home, minimizing its value.

After deliberating for about an hour, the jury found in favor of the Cservaks and against the turnpike commission, placing fair market value at $704,500. They also awarded the Cservaks $597,000 in a replace housing supplement so they could relocate to a property that was equal or better than the home they vacated. In court documents filed in 2011, they contended the turnpike commission had given them just $430,000 as a replace housing supplement.

The Southern Beltway aims to connect Interstate 376 near the Pittsburgh International Airport to the Mon-Fayette Expressway.

Presiding at the trial was President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today