Opinion ID: 1918706
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the court erred in granting an interlocutory quick take of the property.

Text: ¶ 18. Nowhere in the Drainage District Act is there a procedure for a quick take. The entry of the interlocutory decree divested the appellants of their property and granted the right of entry to the District without notice, without a hearing, and without any due process procedures. The District does not address this contention in its brief other than with a general argument that its actions in this case satisfied due process, and the appellants had ample notice that the easements across their land would be necessary in order to complete the project. We find that it would serve no purpose to set aside the interlocutory decree entered by the court on December 20, 1996. However, there must be specific authority granted by the Legislature to the District to allow a quick take of the easements needed. Section 51-29-39 does not provide this authority. We therefore caution district commissioners against future attempts to utilize a quick take procedure under these circumstances.