This section sets the timetable and procedure for expropriation hearings, court approval of the appraisers’ report, recording the decree, and appeals.
§1628. Hearing and determination of expropriation suits; approval of report of board of appraisers; appeal The clerk of the district court shall without delay set the suit for hearing by the court for a date not earlier than sixteen days from and after the date of the latest service of the citation and not earlier than ten days from and after the date of the last publication of the notice; or, in case posting of the notice was made, then not earlier than thirty days from and after the date of the last posting of the notice. On the day set for the hearing of the suit, the judge of the court shall proceed to hear and determine in a summary manner and without the intervention of a jury all issues tendered in said suit, and it shall not be necessary to enter defaults against any defendants or property owners who have not answered or contested the suit. The court shall hear, consider, and determine the matter of the expropriation of all property sought to be expropriated in the suit, and the price to be paid therefor, without the intervention of a jury, and the report of the board of appraisers shall be prima facie proof of the necessity for the expropriation of the property and of the value thereof, as well as of all other matters and things contained in the report. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court after having heard and determined the report of the board of appraisers, the petition of the board of commissioners of the district, and all objection and contests that have been filed, that the estimated cost of constructing the improvements contemplated in the plan for reclamation is less than the benefits assessed against the lands and other property in the district, or sub-district, as the case may be, then the court shall approve and confirm the report of the board of appraisers, or shall modify and amend the report and approve and confirm the report as so modified and amended. The report as so confirmed shall be incorporated in and made a part of the court's decree. The court shall condemn and order the expropriation of all lands and other property, within or without the drainage district, that is shown to be needed for rights of way, levees, canals, holding basins, pumping plant sites, and other works, and shall fix the price to be paid for the property. In the event of contest over the confirmation of the report, the court shall apportion the costs or attorney's fees as may seem equitable. The clerk of court shall transmit a certified copy of the decree of the court to the secretary of the board of commissioners of the drainage district who shall record the decree in the record book of the district. The decree and report as confirmed or amended shall be recorded in the drainage district record book of the parish in which any of the lands of the district are situated. Appeal may be taken from the decree of the court by the drainage district or any party in interest who has filed contest in the proceedings, as in other cases, and all appeals shall be tried in a summary manner and by preference. The decree of the district court, or the decree as confirmed or amended upon any appeal therefrom shall be conclusive upon every person of the legality in every respect of the report of the board of appraisers as the report shall have been confirmed by the decree and shall be conclusive of the right of the commissioners of the drainage district to proceed to reclaim the district or sub-district, as the case may be, in accordance with the plan for reclamation, and to levy taxes and issue bonds.