CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROCEDURES
IC 32-24
ARTICLE 24. EMINENT DOMAIN
IC 32-24-1
Chapter 1. General Procedures
IC 32-24-1-1
"Condemnor" defined
Sec. 1. As used in section 5 of this chapter, "condemnor" means
any person authorized by Indiana law to exercise the power of
eminent domain.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-2
"Owner" defined
Sec. 2. As used in section 5 of this chapter, "owner" means the
persons listed on the tax assessment rolls as being responsible for the
payment of real estate taxes imposed on the property and the persons
in whose name title to real estate is shown in the records of the
recorder of the county in which the real estate is located.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-3
Entry on land; purchase before instituting proceedings; surveys by
public utilities or pipeline companies
Sec. 3. (a) Any person that may exercise the power of eminent
domain for any public use under any statute may exercise the power
only in the manner provided in this article, except as otherwise
provided by law.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (g), before proceeding to
condemn, the person:
(1) may enter upon any land to examine and survey the property
sought to be acquired; and
(2) must make an effort to purchase for the use intended the
land, right-of-way, easement, or other interest, in the property.
(c) The effort to purchase under subsection (b)(2) must include
the following:
(1) Establishing a proposed purchase price for the property.
(2) Providing the owner of the property with an appraisal or
other evidence used to establish the proposed purchase price.
(3) Conducting good faith negotiations with the owner of the
property.
(d) If the land or interest in the land, or property or right is owned
by a person who is an incapacitated person (as defined in
IC 29-3-1-7.5) or less than eighteen (18) years of age, the person
seeking to acquire the property may purchase the property from the
guardian of the incapacitated person or person less than eighteen (18)
years of age. If the purchase is approved by the court appointing the
guardian and the approval is written upon the face of the deed, the
conveyance of the property purchased and the deed made and
approved by the court are valid and binding upon the incapacitated
person or persons less than eighteen (18) years of age.
(e) The deed given, when executed instead of condemnation,
conveys only the interest stated in the deed.
(f) If property is taken by proceedings under this article, the entire
fee simple title may be taken and acquired.
(g) This subsection applies to a public utility (as defined in
IC 32-24-1-5.9(a)) or a pipeline company (as defined in
IC 8-1-22.6-7). If a public utility or a pipeline company seeks to
acquire land or an interest in land under this article, the public utility
or pipeline company may not enter upon the land to examine or
survey the property sought to be acquired unless either of the
following occur:
(1) The public utility or the pipeline company sends notice by
certified mail to the affected landowner (as defined in
IC 8-1-22.6-2) of the public utility's or the pipeline company's
intention to enter upon the landowner's property for survey
purposes. The notice required by this subdivision must be
mailed not later than fourteen (14) days before the date of the
public utility's or the pipeline company's proposed examination
or survey.
(2) The public utility or the pipeline company receives the
landowner's signed consent to enter the property to perform the
proposed examination or survey.
An affected landowner may bring an action to enforce this subsection
in the circuit court of the county in which the landowner's property
is located. A prevailing landowner is entitled to the landowner's
actual damages as a result of the public utility's or the pipeline
company's violation. In addition, the court may award a prevailing
landowner reasonable costs of the action and attorney's fees.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.163-2006, SEC.5;
P.L.110-2007, SEC.2.
IC 32-24-1-4
Complaint
Sec. 4. (a) If the person seeking to acquire the property does not
agree with the owner of an interest in the property or with the
guardian of an owner concerning the damages sustained by the
owner, the person seeking to acquire the property may file a
complaint for that purpose with the clerk of the circuit court of the
county where the property is located.
(b) The complaint must state the following:
(1) The name of the person seeking to acquire the property.
This person shall be named as the plaintiff.
(2) The names of all owners, claimants to, and holders of liens
on the property, if known, or a statement that they are unknown.
These owners, claimants, and holders of liens shall be named as
defendants.
(3) The use the plaintiff intends to make of the property or right
sought to be acquired.
(4) If a right-of-way is sought, the location, general route,
width, and the beginning and end points of the right-of-way.
(5) A specific description of each piece of property sought to be
acquired and whether the property includes the whole or only
part of the entire parcel or tract. If property is sought to be
acquired by the state or by a county for a public highway or by
a municipal corporation for a public use and the acquisition
confers benefits on any other property of the owner, a specific
description of each piece of property to which the plaintiff
alleges the benefits will accrue. Plats of property alleged to be
affected may accompany the descriptions.
(6) That the plaintiff has been unable to agree for the purchase
of the property with the owner, owners, or guardians, as the
case may be, or that the owner is mentally incompetent or less
than eighteen (18) years of age and has no legally appointed
guardian, or is a nonresident of Indiana.
(c) All parcels lying in the county and required for the same
public use, whether owned by the same parties or not, may be
included in the same or separate proceedings at the option of the
plaintiff. However, the court may consolidate or separate the
proceedings to suit the convenience of parties and the ends of justice.
The filing of the complaint and a lis pendens notice in any eminent
domain action under this article constitutes notice of proceedings to
all subsequent purchasers and persons taking encumbrances of the
property, who are bound by the notice.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.81-2004, SEC.26.
IC 32-24-1-5
Offer of purchase; notice; service; forms; restoration of utility or
transportation services
Sec. 5. (a) As a condition precedent to filing a complaint in
condemnation, and except for an action brought under IC 8-1-13-19
(repealed), a condemnor may enter upon the property as provided in
this chapter and must, at least thirty (30) days before filing a
complaint, make an offer to purchase the property in the form
prescribed in subsection (c). The offer must be served personally or
by certified mail upon:
(1) the owner of the property sought to be acquired; or
(2) the owner's designated representative.
(b) If the offer cannot be served personally or by certified mail, or
if the owner or the owner's designated representative cannot be
found, notice of the offer shall be given by publication in a
newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property
is located or in the county where the owner was last known to reside.
The notice must be in the following form:
NOTICE
TO: _________________, _____________________ (owner(s)), __________________________ (condemnor) needs your property for a _____________________________________________ (description of project), and will need to acquire the following from
you:
________________________________________________ (general
description of the property to be acquired). We have made you a
formal offer for this property that is now on file in the Clerk's Office
in the ________ County Court House. Please pick up the offer. If you
do not respond to this notice or accept the offer by ____ (a date 30
days from 1st date of publication) 20___, we shall file a suit to
condemn the property.
_______________________
Condemnor
The condemnor must file the offer with the clerk of the circuit court with a supporting affidavit that diligent search has been made and that the owner cannot be found. The notice shall be published twice as follows:
(1) One (1) notice immediately.
(2) A subsequent publication at least seven (7) days and not more than twenty-one (21) days after the publication under subdivision (1).
(c) The offer to purchase must be in the following form:
UNIFORM PROPERTY OR EASEMENT
ACQUISITION OFFER
____________ (condemnor) is authorized by Indiana law to obtain your property or an easement across your property for certain public purposes. _____________ (condemnor) needs (your property) (an easement across your property) for a ___________________________ (brief description of the project) and needs to take __________________ (legal description of the property or easement to be taken; the legal description may be made on a separate sheet and attached to this document if additional space is required)
It is our opinion that the fair market value of the (property) (easement) we want to acquire from you is $ ____, and, therefore, _____________ (condemnor) offers you $ _______ for the above described (property) (easement). You have thirty (30) days from this date to accept or reject this offer. If you accept this offer, you may expect payment in full within ninety (90) days after signing the documents accepting this offer and executing the easement, and provided there are no difficulties in clearing liens or other problems with title to land. Possession will be required thirty (30) days after you have received your payment in full.
HERE IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF YOUR OPTIONS AND LEGALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS:
1. By law, _____________ (condemnor) is required to make a good faith effort to purchase (your property) (an easement across your property).
2. You do not have to accept this offer and __________ (condemnor) is not required to agree to your demands.
3. However, if you do not accept this offer, and we cannot come to an agreement on the acquisition of (your property) (an easement), _____________ (condemnor) has the right to file suit
to condemn and acquire the (property) (easement) in the county
in which the property is located.
4. You have the right to seek advice of an attorney, real estate
appraiser, or any other person of your choice on this matter.
5. You may object to the public purpose and necessity of this
project.
6. If _____________ (condemnor) files a suit to condemn and
acquire (your property) (an easement) and the court grants its
request to condemn, the court will then appoint three appraisers
who will make an independent appraisal of the (property)
(easement) to be acquired.
7. If we both agree with the court appraisers' report, then the
matter is settled. However, if either of us disagrees with the
appraisers' report to the court, either of us has the right to ask for
a trial to decide what should be paid to you for the (property)
(easement) condemned.
8. If the court appraisers' report is not accepted by either of us,
then ______________ (condemnor) has the legal option of
depositing the amount of the court appraisers' evaluation with the
court. And if such a deposit is made with the court,
_____________ (condemnor) is legally entitled to immediate
possession of the (property) (easement). You may, subject to the
approval of the court, make withdrawals from the amount
deposited with the court. Your withdrawal will in no way affect
the proceedings of your case in court, except that, if the final
judgment awarded you is less than the withdrawal you have
made from the amount deposited, you will be required to pay
back to the court the amount of the withdrawal in excess of the
amount of the final judgment.
9. The trial will decide the full amount of damages you are to
receive. Both of us will be entitled to present legal evidence
supporting our opinions of the fair market value of the property
or easement. The court's decision may be more or less than this
offer. You may employ, at your cost, appraisers and attorneys to
represent you at this time or at any time during the course of the
proceeding described in this notice. (The condemnor may insert
here any other information pertinent to this offer or required by
circumstances or law).
10. If you have any questions concerning this matter you may
contact us at:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(full name, mailing and street address, and phone of the
condemnor)
This offer was made to the owner(s):
______________ of ________________,
______________ of ________________,
______________ of ________________,
______________ of ________________,
on the _____ day of ______ 20___,
BY:
_________________________
(signature)
_________________________
(printed name and title)
Agent of: _________________________
(condemnor)
If you decide to accept the offer of $ _____ made by
_____________ (condemnor) sign your name below and mail
this form to the address indicated above. An additional copy of
this offer has been provided for your file.
ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER
I (We), ______________, ______________, ___________, owner(s) of the above described property or interest in property, hereby accept the offer of $ _______ made by _________ (condemnor) on this _____ day of _______, 20___.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
NOTARY'S CERTIFICATE
STATE OF _____________ )
)SS:
COUNTY OF ___________ )
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ____ day of __________, 20___.
My Commission Expires: __________
__________________________________
(Signature)
________________________________________________
(Printed) NOTARY PUBLIC
(d) If the condemnor has a compelling need to enter upon property to restore utility or transportation services interrupted by disaster or unforeseeable events, the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply for the purpose of restoration of utility or transportation services interrupted by the disaster or unforeseeable events. However, the condemnor shall be responsible to the property owner for all damages occasioned by the entry, and the condemnor shall immediately vacate the property entered upon as soon as utility or transportation services interrupted by the disaster or unforeseeable event have been restored.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.163-2006, SEC.6.
IC 32-24-1-5.5
Time limit for filing a complaint
Sec. 5.5. (a) Except as provided in sections 5.8 and 5.9 of this
chapter, this section applies to every person that may exercise the
power of eminent domain.
(b) If:
(1) a person that may exercise the power of eminent domain
submits a written acquisition offer to the owner of a parcel of
real estate under section 5 of this chapter; and
(2) the owner rejects the offer;
the person shall file a complaint under this article to acquire the
parcel by the exercise of eminent domain not more than two (2) years
after the date the person submitted the written acquisition offer to the
owner.
(c) If a person that may exercise the power of eminent domain fails
to meet the requirements described in subsection (b) concerning a
parcel of real estate, the person may not initiate an action under this
article to acquire the parcel through the power of eminent domain for
the same project or a substantially similar project for at least three
(3) years after the date the two (2) year period described in
subsection (b) expires.
As added by P.L.163-2006, SEC.7.
IC 32-24-1-5.8
Time limit for filing a complaint; Indiana department of
transportation projects
Sec. 5.8. (a) This section applies only to:
(1) the Indiana department of transportation when the department
seeks to acquire a parcel of land or a property right for the
construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or
repair of a:
(A) state highway; or
(B) toll road project or toll bridge; and
(2) any other person that may exercise the power of eminent
domain when the person seeks to acquire a parcel of land or a
property right for the construction, reconstruction, improvement,
maintenance, or repair of a feeder road for an Indiana department
of transportation project described in subdivision (1) if the
construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or
repair of the feeder road begins not later than five (5) years from
the conclusion of the project.
(b) If:
(1) the Indiana department of transportation or other person
described in subsection (a)(2) submits a written acquisition offer
to the owner of a parcel of real estate under section 5 of this
chapter; and
(2) the owner rejects the offer;
the department or other person shall file a complaint under this
article to acquire the parcel by the exercise of eminent domain not
more than six (6) years after the date the department or other person
submitted the written acquisition offer to the owner.
(c) If the Indiana department of transportation or other person fails
to meet the requirements described in subsection (b) concerning a
parcel of real estate, the department or other person may not initiate
an action under this article to acquire the parcel through the power
of eminent domain for the same or a substantially similar project for
at least three (3) years after the date the six (6) year period described
in subsection (b) expires.
As added by P.L.163-2006, SEC.8.
IC 32-24-1-5.9
Time limit for filing a complaint; public utilities and pipeline
companies
Sec. 5.9. (a) As used in this section, "public utility" means a public
utility, municipally owned utility, cooperatively owned utility, joint
agency created under IC 8-1-2.2, municipal sanitation department
operating under IC 36-9-23, sanitary district operating under
IC 36-9-25, or an agency operating as a stormwater utility.
(b) This section applies only to a public utility or pipeline
company.
(c) If:
(1) a public utility or pipeline company submits a written
acquisition offer to the owner of a parcel of real estate under
section 5 of this chapter; and
(2) the owner rejects the offer in writing;
the public utility or pipeline company, to acquire the parcel by the
exercise of eminent domain, must file a complaint under this article
not more than six (6) years after the date on which the public utility
or pipeline company submitted the written acquisition offer to the
owner.
(d) If a public utility or pipeline company fails to meet the
requirements set forth in subsection (c) concerning a parcel of real
estate, the public utility or pipeline company may not initiate an
action under this article to acquire the parcel through the power of
eminent domain for the same project or a substantially similar project
for at least two (2) years after the date on which the six (6) year
period described in subsection (c) expires.
As added by P.L.163-2006, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-6
Notice to appear in court; form
Sec. 6. (a) Upon the filing of a complaint under this chapter, the
circuit court clerk shall issue a notice requiring the defendants to
appear before the court on the day to be fixed by the plaintiff by
indorsement on the complaint at the time of filing the complaint, and
to show cause, if any, why the property sought to be condemned
should not be acquired. The notice shall be substantially in the
following form:
In the ____________ Court of Indiana.
To the Sheriff of ____________ County, Indiana:
You are hereby commanded to notify _______________, defendants, to appear before the __________ Court of _____________ County, Indiana on the ____ day of _________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock, __ M. to show cause, if any, they have why the property sought to be acquired in the complaint of _______ should not be acquired. Witness my hand and the seal of the court affixed at _____________, Indiana, this ___ day of __________, 20_______.
Clerk of _________________ Court.
(b) The notice shall be served in the same manner as a summons is served in civil actions. Upon a showing by affidavit that any defendant is a nonresident of Indiana or that the defendant's name or residence is unknown, publication and proof of the notice may be made as provided in section 7 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-7
Notice to appear in court; publication; nonresident landowners;
assessment of damages
Sec. 7. (a) The notice, upon its return, must show its:
(1) service for ten (10) days; or
(2) proof of publication for three (3) successive weeks in a
weekly newspaper of general circulation printed and published
in the English language in the county in which the property
sought to be acquired is located.
The last publication of the notice must be five (5) days before the
day set for the hearing.
(b) The clerk of the court in which the proceedings are pending,
upon the first publication of the notice, shall send to the post office
address of each nonresident owner whose property will be affected
by the proceedings a copy of the notice, if the post office address of
the owner or owners can be ascertained by inquiry at the office of the
treasurer of the county.
(c) The court, being satisfied of the regularity of the proceedings
and the right of the plaintiff to exercise the power of eminent domain
for the use sought, shall appoint:
(1) one (1) disinterested freeholder of the county; and
(2) two (2) disinterested appraisers licensed under IC 25-34.1;
who are residents of Indiana to assess the damages, or the benefits
and damages, as the case may be, that the owner or owners severally
may sustain, or be entitled to, by reason of the acquisition. One (1)
of the appraisers appointed under subdivision (2) must reside not
more than fifty (50) miles from the property.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.113-2006, SEC.19.
IC 32-24-1-8
Objections to proceedings; appeals
Sec. 8. (a) A defendant may object to the proceedings:
(1) because the court does not have jurisdiction either of the
subject matter or of the person;
(2) because the plaintiff does not have the right to exercise the
power of eminent domain for the use sought; or
(3) for any other reason disclosed in the complaint or set up in
the objections.
(b) Objections under subsection (a) must be:
(1) in writing;
(2) separately stated and numbered; and
(3) filed not later than thirty (30) days after the date the notice
required in section 6 of this chapter is served on the defendant.
However, the court may extend the period for filing objections
by not more than thirty (30) days upon written motion of the
defendant.
(c) The court may not allow pleadings in the cause other than the
complaint, any objections, and the written exceptions provided for in
section 11 of this chapter. However, the court may permit
amendments to the pleadings.
(d) If an objection is sustained, the plaintiff may amend the
complaint or may appeal from the decision in the manner that
appeals are taken from final judgments in civil actions. All the
parties shall take notice and are bound by the judgment in an appeal.
(e) If the objections are overruled, the court shall appoint
appraisers as provided for in this chapter. Any defendant may appeal
the interlocutory order overruling the objections and appointing
appraisers in the manner that appeals are taken from final judgments
in civil actions upon filing with the circuit court clerk a bond:
(1) with the penalty that the court fixes;
(2) with sufficient surety;
(3) payable to the plaintiff; and
(4) conditioned for the diligent prosecution of the appeal and for
the payment of the judgment and costs that may be affirmed and
adjudged against the appellants.
The appeal bond must be filed not later than ten (10) days after the
appointment of the appraisers.
(f) All the parties shall take notice of and be bound by the
judgment in the appeal.
(g) The transcript must be filed in the office of the clerk of the
supreme court not later than thirty (30) days after the filing of the
appeal bond. The appeal does not stay proceedings in the cause.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.163-2006, SEC.10.
IC 32-24-1-9
Appraisers; oath and duty
Sec. 9. (a) Each appraiser shall take an oath that:
(1) the appraiser has no interest in the matter; and
(2) the appraiser will honestly and impartially make the
assessment.
(b) After the appraisers are sworn as provided in subsection (a), the
judge shall instruct the appraisers as to:
(1) their duties as appraisers; and
(2) the measure of the damages and benefits, if any, they allow.
(c) The appraisers shall determine and report all of the following:
(1) The fair market value of each parcel of property sought to be
acquired and the value of each separate estate or interest in the
property.
(2) The fair market value of all improvements pertaining to the
property, if any, on the portion of the property to be acquired.
(3) The damages, if any, to the residue of the property of the
owner or owners caused by taking out the part sought to be
acquired.
(4) The other damages, if any, that will result to any persons
from the construction of the improvements in the manner
proposed by the plaintiff.
(d) If the property is sought to be acquired by the state or by a
county for a public highway or a municipal corporation for a public
use that confers benefits on any property of the owner, the report
must also state the benefits that will accrue to each parcel of
property, set opposite the description of each parcel of property
whether described in the complaint or not.
(e) Except as provided in subsection (f), in estimating the damages
specified in subsection (c), the appraisers may not deduct for any
benefits that may result from the improvement.
(f) In the case of a condemnation by the state or by a county for a
public highway or a municipal corporation for public use, the
appraisers shall deduct any benefits assessed from the amount of
damage allowed, if any, under subsection (c)(3) and (c)(4) and the
difference, if any, plus the damages allowed under subsection (c)(1)
and (c)(2) shall be the amount of the award. However, the damages
awarded may not be less than the damages allowed under subsection
(c)(1) and (c)(2). Upon the trial of exceptions to the award by either
party, a like measure of damages must be followed.
(g) For the purpose of assessing compensation and damages, the
right to compensation and damages is considered to have accrued as
of the date of the service of the notice provided in section 6 of this
chapter, and actual value of compensation and damages at that date
shall be:
(1) the measure of compensation for all property to be actually
acquired; and
(2) the basis of damages to property not actually acquired but
injuriously affected;
except as to the damages stated in subsection (c)(4).
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-10
Payment of benefits or damages assessed
Sec. 10. (a) If the plaintiff pays to the circuit court clerk the
amount of damages assessed under section 9 of this chapter, the
plaintiff may take possession of and hold the interest in the property
so acquired for the uses stated in the complaint, subject to the appeal
provided for in section 8 of this chapter. But the amount of the
benefits or damages is subject to review as provided in section 11 of
this chapter.
(b) Upon payment by the plaintiff of the amount of the award of
the court appointed appraisers, the plaintiff shall file or cause to be
filed with the auditor of the county in which the property is located
a certificate, certifying the amount paid to the circuit court clerk and
including the description of the property being acquired. The auditor
of the county shall then transfer the property being acquired to the
plaintiff on the tax records of the county.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-11
Exceptions to appraisers' reports
Sec. 11. (a) Any party to an action under this chapter aggrieved by
the assessment of benefits or damages may file written exceptions to
the assessment in the office of the circuit court clerk. Exceptions to
the assessment must be filed not later than twenty (20) days after the
filing of the report.
(b) The cause shall further proceed to issue, trial, and judgment as
in civil actions. The court may make orders and render findings and
judgments that the court considers just.
(c) Notice of filing of the appraisers' report shall be given by the
circuit court clerk to all known parties to the action and their
attorneys of record by certified mail. The period of exceptions shall
run from and after the date of mailing. Either party may appeal a
judgment as to benefits or damages as in civil actions.
(d) Twenty (20) days after the filing of the report of the appraisers,
and if the plaintiff has paid the amount of damages assessed to the
circuit court clerk, any one (1) or more of the defendants may file a
written request for payment of each defendant's proportionate share
of the damages held by the circuit court clerk. The defendants
making a request for payment must also file sufficient copies of the
request for service upon the plaintiff and all other defendants not
joining in the request. The defendants making the request may
withdraw and receive each defendant's proportionate share of the
damages upon the following terms and conditions:
(1) Each written request must:
(A) be verified under oath; and
(B) state:
(i) the amount of the proportionate share of the damages to
which each of the defendants joining in the request is
entitled;
(ii) the interest of each defendant joining in the request; and
(iii) the highest offer made by the plaintiff to each of the
defendants for each defendant's respective interests in or
damages sustained in respect to the property that has been
acquired by the plaintiff.
(2) Upon the filing of a written request for withdrawal and
payment of damages to any of the defendants, the circuit court
clerk shall immediately issue a notice to the plaintiff and all
defendants of record in the cause who have not joined in the
request for payment. The notice must contain the following:
(A) The names of the parties.
(B) The number of the cause.
(C) A statement that a request for payment has been filed.
(D) A notice to appear on a day, to be fixed by the court, and
show cause, if any, why the amounts requested should not be
withdrawn and paid over by the circuit court clerk to those
defendants requesting the amounts to be paid.
(E) A copy of the request for payment.
If a defendant not requesting payment is a nonresident of
Indiana, or if that defendant's name or residence is unknown,
publication and proof of the notice and request for payment shall
be made as provided in section 4 of this chapter.
(3) After a hearing held after notice of a written request made
under this section, the court shall determine and order the
payment by the circuit court clerk of the proportionate shares of
the damages due to the defendants requesting payment. Any of
the defendants may appeal an order under this subdivision within
the same time and in the same manner as provided for allowable
appeals from interlocutory orders in civil actions.
(4) If exceptions to the appraisers' report have been duly filed by
the plaintiff or any defendant, the circuit court clerk may not
make payment to any defendant of any part of the damages
deposited with the clerk by the plaintiff until the defendants
requesting payment have filed with the circuit court clerk a
written undertaking, with surety approved by the court, for the
repayment to the plaintiff of all sums received by those
defendants in excess of the amount or amounts awarded as
damages to those defendants by the judgment of the court upon
trial held on the exceptions to the assessment of damages by the
appraisers. However, the court may waive the requirement of
separate surety as to any defendant who is a resident freeholder
of the county in which the cause is pending and who is owner of
real property in Indiana that is liable to execution, not included
in the real property appropriated by the plaintiff, and equal in
value to the amount by which the damages to be withdrawn
exceed the amount offered to the defendants as stated in their
request or the amount determined by the court if the plaintiff has
disputed the statement of the offer. A surety or written
undertaking may not be required for a defendant to withdraw
those amounts previously offered by the plaintiff to the
defendant if the plaintiff has previously notified the court in
writing of the amounts so offered. The liability of any surety
does not exceed the amount by which the damages to be
withdrawn exceed the amount offered to the defendants with
whom the surety joins in the written undertaking. Each written
undertaking filed with the circuit court clerk shall be
immediately recorded by the clerk in the order book and entered
in the judgment docket, and from the date of the recording and
entry the written undertaking is a lien upon all the real property
in the county owned by the several obligors, and the undertaking
is also a lien upon all the real property owned by the several
obligors in each county of Indiana in which the plaintiff causes
a certified copy of the judgment docket entry to be recorded,
from the date of the recording.
(5) The withdrawal and receipt from the circuit court clerk by
any defendant of that defendant's proportionate share of the
damages awarded by the appraisers, as determined by the court
upon the written request and hearing, does not operate and is not
considered as a waiver of any exceptions duly filed by that
defendant to the assessment of damages by the appraisers.
(6) In any trial of exceptions, the court or jury shall compute and
allow interest at an annual rate of eight percent (8%) on the
amount of a defendant's damages from the date plaintiff takes
possession of the property. Interest may not be allowed on any
money paid by the plaintiff to the circuit court clerk:
(A) after the money is withdrawn by the defendant; or
(B) that is equal to the amount of damages previously offered
by the plaintiff to any defendant and which amount can be
withdrawn by the defendant without filing a written
undertaking or surety with the court for the withdrawal of that
amount.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-12
Offer of settlement; acceptance; rejection
Sec. 12. (a) Not later than forty-five (45) days before a trial
involving the issue of damages, the plaintiff shall, and a defendant
may, file and serve on the other party an offer of settlement. Not
more than five (5) days after the date offer of settlement is served,
the party served may respond by filing and serving upon the other
party an acceptance or a counter offer of settlement. The offer must
state that it is made under this section and specify the amount,
exclusive of interest and costs, that the party serving the offer is
willing to accept as just compensation and damages for the property
sought to be acquired. The offer or counter offer supersedes any
other offer previously made under this chapter by the party.
(b) An offer of settlement is considered rejected unless an
acceptance in writing is filed and served on the party making the
offer before the trial on the issue of the amount of damages begins.
(c) If the offer is rejected, it may not be referred to for any purpose
at the trial but may be considered solely for the purpose of awarding
costs and litigation expenses under section 14 of this chapter.
(d) This section does not limit or restrict the right of a defendant
to payment of any amounts authorized by law in addition to damages
for the property taken from the defendant.
(e) This section does not apply to an action brought under
IC 8-1-13-19 (repealed).
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.163-2006, SEC.11.
IC 32-24-1-13
Highways and roads; appointment of appraisers
Sec. 13. (a) The Indiana department of transportation or any state
board, agency, or commission that succeeds the department in
respect to the duties to locate, relocate, construct, reconstruct, repair,
or maintain the public highways of Indiana, having the right to
exercise the power of eminent domain for the public use, in its action
for condemnation is not required to prove that an offer of purchase
was made to the property owner in an action under this article.
(b) The court shall on the return day fixed at the time of the filing
of the complaint appoint appraisers as provided by law and fix a day
not later than ten (10) days after the date of the court's order for the
appraisers to appear, qualify, and file their report of appraisal.
(c) If the appraisers appointed by the court fail to appear, qualify,
and file their report of appraisal as ordered by the court, the court
shall discharge the appraisers and appoint new appraisers in the same
manner as provided in subsection (b).
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-14
Costs of proceedings; litigation expenses
Sec. 14. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the plaintiff shall
pay the costs of the proceedings.
(b) If there is a trial, the additional costs caused by the trial shall
be paid as ordered by the court. However, if there is a trial and the
amount of damages awarded to the defendant by the judgment,
exclusive of interest and costs, is greater than the amount specified
in the last offer of settlement made by the plaintiff under section 12
of this chapter, the court shall allow the defendant the defendant's
litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, in an
amount not to exceed the lesser of:
(1) twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000); or
(2) the fair market value of the defendant's property or easement
as determined under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.163-2006, SEC.12.
IC 32-24-1-15
Forfeitures; failure to pay damages or take possession
Sec. 15. (a) If the person seeking to take property under this article
fails:
(1) to pay the assessed damages and, if applicable, the attorney's
fees payable under section 14 of this chapter not later than one
(1) year after the appraisers' report is filed, if exceptions are not
filed to the report;
(2) to pay:
(A) the damages assessed and, if applicable, attorney's fees
payable under section 14 of this chapter if exceptions are filed
to the appraisers' report and the exceptions are not sustained;
or
(B) the damages assessed and, if applicable, attorney's fees
payable under section 14 of this chapter and costs if exceptions
are filed to the appraisers' report and the exceptions are
sustained;
not later than one (1) year after the entry of the judgment, if an
appeal is not taken from the judgment;
(3) to pay the damages assessed and, if applicable, attorney's fees
payable under section 14 of this chapter or the judgment
rendered in the trial court not later than one (1) year after final
judgment is entered in the appeal if an appeal is taken from the
judgment of the trial court; or
(4) to take possession of the property and adapt the property for
the purpose for which it was acquired not later than six (6) years
after the payment of the award or judgment for damages, except
where a fee simple interest in the property is authorized to be
acquired and is acquired;
the person seeking to acquire the property forfeits all rights in the
property as fully and completely as if the procedure to take the
property had not begun.
(b) An action to declare a forfeiture under this section may be
brought by any person having an interest in the property sought to be
acquired, or the question of the forfeiture may be raised and
determined by direct allegation in any subsequent proceedings, by
any other person to acquire the property for a public use. In the
subsequent proceedings the person seeking the previous acquisition
or the person's proper representatives, successors, or assigns shall be
made parties.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.163-2006, SEC.13.
IC 32-24-1-16
Prior appropriation of land
Sec. 16. A person having an interest in property that has been or
may be acquired for a public use without the procedures of this
article or any prior law followed is entitled to have the person's
damages assessed under this article substantially in the manner
provided in this article.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.
IC 32-24-1-17
Conflicting laws; repeal
Sec. 17. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with the provisions
of this chapter are hereby repealed: provided, that this repeal shall
not affect proceedings pending on April 15, 1905, but such
proceedings may be completed as if this chapter had never been
passed.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.9.