Section 31-19-3 - Condemnation--Petition--Parties defendant--Contents of petition--Verification.
31-19-3. Condemnation--Petition--Parties defendant--Contents of petition--Verification. If land or material is to be acquired by condemnation, the Department of Transportation, on behalf of the state and in its name, shall file a petition in the circuit court for the county in which the property to be taken or damaged is situated, praying that the just compensation be made and such property be ascertained by a jury and shall name the Department of Transportation as the department of the state government desiring to take or damage the property on behalf of the state as plaintiff. All persons having an interest in or a lien upon the property affected by the proceedings shall be named as defendants so far as they may be known at the time of the filing of the petition. It shall contain a description of the property to be taken or damaged and shall contain a copy of the related resolution of necessity that was passed by the Transportation Commission. The purpose for which the property is to be taken or damaged shall be clearly set forth in the petition. It is not necessary to specify the interest or claim of the several defendants in the land or property affected by the proceedings. The petition shall be signed and verified in the manner and as provided by § 15-6-11 relating to the signing of pleadings in the circuit courts.
Source: SL 1939, ch 113, § 2; SDC Supp 1960, § 28.13A02; SL 1966, ch 83; SL 2004, ch 196, § 4.