Appraisal Reports Used in Condemnation Proceedings

DON STENBERG A HORNEY GENERAL DATE: SUBJECT: STATE OF NEBRASKA ®ffir:e nf t4:e !Jtnru:el! @:eu:eral 2115 STATE CAPITOL BUILDING LINCOLN, NE 68509-8920 (402) 471-2682 TOO (402) 471-2682 CAPITOL FAX (402) 471-3297 1235 K ST. FAX (402) 471-4725 .. ~ OFFICIAL • o• ..... ~·~MfiCI March 3, 2000 . .,.. STEVE GRASZ LAURIE SMITH CAMP DEPUTY ATTORNEYS GENERAL Appraisal Reports Used in Condemnation Proceedings. REQUESTED BY: Marilyn Hasselbalch, Director Nebraska Real Estate Appraiser Board WRITTEN BY: Don Stenberg, Attorney General Mark D. Starr, Assistant Attorney General You have asked whether a credentialed real estate appraiser is exempt from the Real Estate Appraiser Act under Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 76-2221 (6) when rendering an estimate or opinion of value of real estate or any interest therein or any damages thereto when such estimate or opini~n is offered as testimony in any condemnation proceeding. According to that law, "[t]he Real Estate Appraiser Act shall not apply to ... (6) Any person who renders an estimate or opinion of value of real estate or any interest in real estate or damages thereto when such estimate or opinion is offered as testimony in any condemnation proceeding." You have proposed thatthe Legislature may have intended to exempt persons other than credentialed real estate appraisers, suggesting that the Legislature would have specifically referred to "any real estate appraiser'' had it been intended that they be exempt. However, "'[i]n the absence of anything indicating to the contrary, statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning; when the words of a statute are Jennifer M. Amen David K Arterbo.rn William R. Barger L. Jay Bartel J. Kirk Brown Marie C. Clarke Dale A. Comer David D. Cookson Kyle C. Dahl Suzanne Glover-Etltich Scott G. Gunem Susan J. Gustafson Robert E. Har1Uns Royce N. Harper Jason W. Hayes Amber F. Henrick Wdliam l. HOYAand Marilyn B. Hutchinson Therese N. James Kimbe~y A. Klein Chaootta R. Koranda Charles E. Lowe Usa D. Martin-Pr1ce LyM A. Melson Donald J. B. Miller Printed with soy Ink on recycled paper Ronald D. Moravec Fredr1d< F. Neid Thomas J. Olsen Peny A. Pirsch Mark D. Raffety Hobert B. Rupe James D. Sm~h James H. Spears Mark D. Starr Martin Swanson John R. Thompson BanyWaid TerTi M. Weeks Melanie J. W hittamore-MantziOs Londa L. Willard Ms. Marilyn Hasselbalch March 3, 2000 Page -2- plain, direct, and unambiguous, no interpretation is necessary or will be indulged to ascertain their meaning.' In re Application of City of Lexington, 244 Neb. 62, 67, 504 N.W.2d 532, 536 (1993).'' State on Behalf of Matchett v. Dunkle, 244 Neb. 639, 643, 508 N.W.2d 580, 583 (1993). Regardless of what the Legislature's intent may have been, the law is clear. The Real Estate Appraiser Act does not apply to a person when his or her estimate or opinion of the value of, or damages to, real estate or certain interests therein is offered as testimony in a condemnation proceeding, even if that opinion or estimate is offered by a credentialed real estate appraiser. Approved by: 26-222-10.3 Sincerely yours, DON STENBERG Attorney General CAf~ Mark D. Starr Assistant Attorney General