Section 19:109 - Trial in or out of term with dispatch; judgment; appraisals; payment in court registryA. Expropriation suits shall be tried in term time or in vacation and shall be conducted with preference and with the greatest possible dispatch. Judgments may be signed in term time or in vacation. All issues shall be decided by the trial judge. However, when a jury trial has been demanded, the judge shall hear the evidence on all issues, other than the measure of compensation and shall render a decision within five days. If the trial judge decides in favor of the expropriating authority, then within thirty days after such decision, a jury shall be impaneled to determine the measure of compensation. 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 prior to 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, the court may award reasonable attorney fees. 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.B. If either party has demanded a trial by jury to determine compensation, the trial shall be in accordance with the general laws regulating trial by jury, except as provided in this Part and except that in order to render any verdict, five of the jurors must concur therein. The jury shall consist of six jurors. The judge may allow the jurors to take a concise summary into the jury room as provided in R.S. 48:451.18. The number of peremptory challenges allowed shall be as provided for in R.S. 48:451.9.C. After the trial to determine compensation the court shall render judgment against the plaintiff in the amount of the compensation determined to be due the owner.D. The expropriating authority shall present its evidence of value first.Added by Acts 1977, No. 453, §1.Added by Acts 1977, No. 453, §1.