West Virginia Code § 54-2-15

Alternative procedure for condemnation by business corporation; bond
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Any business corporation, entitled to exercise the powers of eminent domain under this
chapter, may file with its petition a bond for a sufficient amount with good sureties, payable
to the owner of the property proposed to be taken to secure to such owner payment for such
property and all damages to which he shall be entitled for the taking thereof, and if the
owner being sui juris shall appear and make no objection to such bond, the eapplicant shall be
entitled to take possession of the property sought to be condemned, for the purposes stated
in the petition. But if objection be made to the form, amount of, or surerties on, such bond, or
if the owner cannot be found, or is not sui juris, the court or judge shall fix a day for the
hearing of any objections to such bond and of the request of the applicant to approve the
same; and at any time after five days' written notice shall have been given to the owner or to
his guardian or committee, if he be not sui juris, and if the otwner cannot be found, or his
guardian or committee, the owner not being sui juris, then, after five days' written notice
posted upon the land, which notice shall state the time and place for such hearing, the court
or the judge shall proceed to hear and determine the matters arising upon such objection
and request, and may require evidence as to the sufficiency of the surety or sureties and as
to the sufficiency of the amount of the bond, and may, in its or his discretion, require new
and additional sureties and a bond for a larger amount and in a more satisfactory form, and
when satisfied as to the form, amount and sufficiency of such bond and sureties, and that the
purpose for which the property is to be appropriated is a public use for which private
property may be taken upon compensating the owner, the court or judge shall approve the
bond and make an order permeitting the applicant to enter upon, take possession,
appropriate and use the land or property sought to be condemned for the purposes stated in
the petition. At any timeL during the subsequent proceedings on such petition, if it shall
appear necessary so to do in order to protect the owner and assure unto him the payment of
the compensation an d damages to which he may be entitled, the court or judge may require
the applicant Vto give a new and additional bond with sureties satisfactory to the court or
judge.
Any indemnity company authorized to transact business in the State of West Virginia shall be
deemed a good and sufficient surety on any bond required under this section.
If the applicant shall enter upon or take possession of the property under the provisions of
this section, and shall do any work thereon, or cause any injury or damage to such property,
it shall not thereafter be entitled, without the consent of the defendant, to abandon the
proceeding for the condemnation thereof, but the same shall proceed with reasonable
dispatch to a finality and the applicant shall pay to the owner of the land the amount of the
compensation and damages as finally determined in such proceedings, with interest at ten
percent from the date of the filing of the petition.

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