If a public authority has taken possession of privately owned immovable property and built facilities on it with the owner’s consent or acquiescence, the owner waives some objections but may still sue for compensation; in some cases the owner may also ask a court to decide whether the taking served a public and necessary purpose.
§14. Possession of property; removal of facilities; objection; waiver A. In any case where the state or its political corporation or subdivision has actually, in good faith believing it had authority to do so, taken possession of privately owned immovable property of another, and constructed facilities upon, under, or over such property with the consent or acquiescence of the owner of the property, such owner shall be deemed to have waived his right to contest the necessity for the taking and to receive just compensation prior to the taking, but he shall be entitled to bring an action for such compensation, to be determined in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 19:9, for the taking of his property or interest therein, the just compensation to be determined as of the time of the taking of the property, or right or interest therein, and such action shall proceed as if the state, its political corporation, or subdivision had filed a petition for expropriation as provided for in R.S. 19:2.1. B. In the case where any expropriating authority referred to in R.S. 19:2, other than the state or its political corporations or subdivisions, has actually, in good faith believing it had the authority to do so, taken possession of privately owned immovable property of another and constructed facilities upon, under, or over such property with the consent or acquiescence of the owner of the property, it shall be presumed that the owner of the property has waived his right to receive just compensation prior to the taking, and he shall be entitled only to bring an action for judicial determination of whether the taking was for a public and necessary purpose and for just compensation to be determined in accordance with R.S. 19:9, as of the time of the taking of the property, or right or interest therein, and such action shall proceed as nearly as may be as if the expropriating authority had filed a petition for expropriation as provided for in R.S. 19:2.1. C. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall apply only to privately owned immovable property over which the state or its political corporation or subdivision has exercised actual possession in good faith for ten years and has completed construction of facilities upon, under, or over such property. The provisions of this Section shall not be deemed to authorize the acquisition of any interest in privately owned immovable property adjoining such facilities, including but not limited to a servitude, right of use, or any right of passage across or access to the private immovable property adjoining such facilities. Added by Acts 1976, No. 504, §1; Acts 2007, No. 362, §1; Acts 2012, No. 702, §1.