It has been held repeatedly in this State that unless the legal remedy, that is the remedy at law, is inadequate, a property owner's cause of action in a condemnation situation is exclusively in the law court as opposed to a court of equity. Fritts v. Leech, 201 Tenn. 18, 296 S.W.2d 834 (1956); Hombra v. Smith, 159 Tenn. 308, 17 S.W.2d 921 (1929); Armstrong v. Illinois Cent. R.R. Co., 153 Tenn. 283, 282 S.W. 382 (1926); Tennessee, Coal, Iron R.R. Co. v. Paint Rock Flume Transp. Co., 128 Tenn. 277, 160 S.W. 522 (1913); Doty v. American Tel. Tel. Co., 123 Tenn. 329, 130 S.W. 1053 (1910); Scruggs v. Town of Sweetwater, 29 Tenn. App. 357, 196 S.W.2d 717 (1949); Georgia Industrial Realty Co. v. City of Chattanooga, 163 Tenn. 435, 43 S.W.2d 490 (1931). An analysis of some of these cases may be helpful.
State Highway Commission v. Danielson, 146 Mont. 539, 409 P.2d 443 (1965), cited by respondent, does not comport with the prior holdings of our Tennessee Supreme Court, which forbids judicial invasion of the political prerogative of where and how to build a highway. Respondent cites Scruggs v. Town of Sweetwater, 29 Tenn. App. 357, 196 S.W.2d 717 (1946) wherein the complainants sought to enjoin a city from widening a street on the ground that one of the abutting property owners had conspired to contribute funds and solicit influence for the project to enhance the value of his own property. The chancellor dismissed the bill and this Court affirmed.