The Expressway Authority filed an eminent domain suit to acquire privately-owned land
needed for a highway project. The owners of the land challenged the constitutionality of
the law used to calculate the fees to be paid to their attorneys by the Expressway
Authority. The property owners argued the Authority had caused excessive litigation and
created more work for their lawyers, thus decreasing the hourly rate to an unreasonable
level. The trial court agreed but the Fifth District Court of Appeal overturned the lower
court and asked this Court to review the issue as one of great public importance.