2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 54. Eminent Domain › Article 2. Procedure › §54-2-15. Alternative Procedure for Condemnation by Business Corporation; Bond

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 applicant 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 sureties 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 owner 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 permitting 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 time 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 and damages to which he may be entitled, the court or judge may require the applicant to 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.