F. W. Ludewig and Vesterline Ludewig v. Houston Pipeline Company and Intrastate Gathering Corporation

This is a condemnation action. After preliminary negotiations failed, appellee Houston Pipeline Co., (HPL) filed its original Statement and Petition in Condemnation in which it sought to acquire a 50-foot wide pipeline easement through appellants (Ludewigs) property. A description of the easement sought and a plat were attached to the original statement and petition. Three special commissioners conducted a hearing and awarded appellants the sum of $25,000.00. Appellants rejected the award as "grossly inadequate," while appellee labelled it "grossly excessive;" both parties filed objections to the award seeking a new trial in the District Court of Live Oak County. HPL deposited the amount of the award and received a writ of possession on July 25, 1985.