An appeals court has thrown out a $3.6 million verdict in favor of a family that wanted to sell land for a Walmart store in Frankenmuth, Mich.
The court found problems with the verdict form. The court said Monday a new trial should be held because the legal basis for the jury's decision in 2010 is unclear.
Ronald Loesel and family members sued Frankenmuth after city officials passed a law restricting the size of stores to 65,000 square feet or less. The ordinance effectively killed the $3 million sale of 24 acres to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in 2006.
The Loesels sued in federal court in Bay City, claiming the ordinance violated their constitutional right of equal protection. Frankenmuth, 90 miles north of Detroit, is a tourist town known for its Bavarian theme.
