Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 19, § 8. Trial with dispatch; judgment; appraisals; payment in court registry

A. (1) Expropriation suits shall be tried by preference and shall be conducted with the greatest possible dispatch. All issues shall be decided by the trial judge, except compensation when either party has demanded a trial by jury to determine compensation.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 19:5, if the defendant files a timely answer, exception, or other responsive pleading challenging any issue other than compensation, the court shall set the matter for hearing within thirty days after filing of the pleading and shall render a decision within five days after the case is submitted, which time periods may be extended for good cause shown. If the court rules in favor of the expropriating authority, upon motion of either party, the trial on compensation shall be set within forty-five days thereafter, which time period may be extended for good cause shown.

(3) Immediately after compensation has been determined, the plaintiff shall, upon motion of the defendant, present evidence as to the highest amount it offered the defendant for the property and severance damages, if any, prior to the trial on the merits. After hearing evidence on the issue, the court shall determine the highest amount offered. If the highest amount offered is less than the compensation awarded for the property and severance damages, if any, the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the defendant. The expropriating authority shall not be entitled to possession or ownership of the property until a final judgment has been rendered and payment has been made to the owner or paid into the registry of the court, except as may otherwise be stipulated by the parties.