Almota Farmers Elevator & Warehouse Co. v. United States

Decided January 16, 1973. Potter Stewart delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 71-951 · 409 U.S. 470 (1973) · Cited 237 times

Holding

In a condemnation proceeding, the concept of 'just compensation' is measured by what a willing buyer would have paid for the improvements, taking into account the possibility that the lease might be renewed as well as that it might not.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 5–4.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• United States v. Miller · 317 U.S. 369 (1943)
• Mitchell v. United States · 267 U.S. 341 (1925)
• United States v. Reynolds · 397 U.S. 14 (1970)
• United States Ex Rel. Tennessee Valley Authority v. Powelson · 319 U.S. 266 (1943)
• United States v. Petty Motor Co. · 327 U.S. 372 (1946)
• United States v. Virginia Electric & Power Co. · 365 U.S. 624 (1961)
• Omnia Commercial Co. v. United States · 261 U.S. 502 (1923)
• United States v. Rands · 389 U.S. 121 (1967)
• United States v. Willow River Power Co. · 324 U.S. 499 (1945)
• United States v. Commodities Trading Corp. · 339 U.S. 121 (1950)
• City of New York v. Sage · 239 U.S. 57 (1915)
• Reichelderfer v. Quinn · 287 U.S. 315 (1932)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Phillips v. Washington Legal Foundation · 524 U.S. 156 (1998)
• United States v. 564.54 Acres of Monroe and Pike County Land · 441 U.S. 506 (1979)
• Regional Rail Reorganization Act Cases · 419 U.S. 102 (1974)
• Brown v. Legal Foundation of Washington · 538 U.S. 216 (2003)
• San Diego Gas & Electric Co. v. City of San Diego · 450 U.S. 621 (1981)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1973). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).