2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 70. Property › Chapter 30. Eminent Domain › Part 3. Hearing, Judgment, and Subsequent Proceedings › 70-30-311. Putting condemnor in possession

70-30-311. Putting condemnor in possession.
(1) At any time after the filing of the preliminary condemnation order pursuant to 70-30-206 or an order as provided in 60-4-104(4) and (5) and while it retains jurisdiction, the court upon application of the condemnor may make an order that:
(a) upon payment into court of the amount of compensation claimed by the condemnee in the condemnee's statement of claim of just compensation under 70-30-207 or the amount assessed either by the commissioners or by the jury, the condemnor is authorized:
(i) if already in possession of the property of the condemnee that is sought to be taken, to continue in possession; or
(ii) if not in possession, to take possession of the property and use and possess the property during the pendency and until the final conclusion of the proceedings and litigation; and
(b) all actions and proceedings against the condemnor on account of the possession are stayed until the final conclusion of the proceedings and litigation.
(2) If the condemnee fails to file a statement of claim of just compensation within the time specified in 70-30-207, the condemnor may obtain an order for possession provided for in subsection (1), subject to the condition subsequent that a condemnor's payment into court must be made within 10 days of receipt of the condemnee's statement of claim.
(3) However, when an appeal is taken by the condemnee, the court may require the condemnor before continuing or taking possession, in addition to paying into court the amount assessed, to give a bond or undertaking with sufficient sureties approved by the court and in an amount that the court may direct, conditioned to pay the condemnee any additional damages and costs above the amount assessed, which is finally determined as the amount that the condemnee is entitled to for the taking of the property, and all damages that the condemnee may sustain if for any cause the property is not finally taken for public use.
(4) The amount assessed by the commissioners or by the jury on appeal is considered, for the purposes of this section and until reassessed or changed in the further proceedings, as just compensation for the property taken. However, the condemnor, by payment into court of the amount claimed in the answer or the amount assessed or by giving security as provided in subsection (3), may not be prevented from appealing from the assessment but may appeal in the same manner and with the same effect as if money had not been deposited or security had not been given.
(5) (a) Subject to subsection (5)(b), in all cases in which the condemnor deposits the amount of the assessment and continues in possession or takes possession of the property, as provided in this section, the condemnee, if there is no dispute as to the ownership of the property, may at any time demand and receive upon order of the court all or any part of the money deposited. The demand or receipt may not preclude the condemnee's right of appeal from the assessment. However, if the amount of the assessment is finally reduced on appeal by either party, the condemnee who has received all or any part of the amount deposited is liable to the condemnor for any excess of the amount received over the amount finally assessed, with legal interest on the excess from the time the condemnee received the money deposited. The excess, plus interest, may be recovered by a civil action. Upon any appeal from an assessment by the commissioners to a jury, the jury may make a finding for any amount that it considers appropriate.
(b) The court may not order the delivery to any condemnee of more than 75% of the money deposited on the condemnee's account except upon posting of bond by the condemnee equal to the amount in excess of 75%, with sureties to be approved by the court, to repay to the condemnor amounts withdrawn that are in excess of the condemnee's final award in the proceedings.
History: En. Sec. 596, p. 195, L. 1877; re-en. Sec. 596, 1st Div. Rev. Stat. 1879; amd. Sec. 614, 1st Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; amd. Sec. 2, p. 272, L. 1891; en. Sec. 2229, C. Civ. Proc. 1895; re-en. Sec. 7349, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 9952, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. C. Civ. Proc. Sec. 1254; re-en. Sec. 9952, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 234, L. 1961; R.C.M. 1947, 93-9920; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 622, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 76, Ch. 125, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 330, L. 2003.