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The right of expropriation granted by this Part shall be exercised in the following manner:

(1)  A petition shall be filed by the governing authority in the district court of the parish in which the property to be expropriated is situated.

(2)  The petition shall contain a statement of the purpose for which the property is to be expropriated, describing the property necessary therefor with a plan of the same, a description of the improvements thereon, if any, and the name of the owner if known.

(3)  The petition shall have annexed to it the following:

(a)  A certified copy of a resolution adopted by the governing authority authorizing the taking and declaring that it is necessary or useful for the purposes of this Part.

(b)  A certificate signed by the consulting engineer for the governing authority declaring that (i) he has fixed the right-of-way in a manner sufficient in his judgment to provide for the public interest, safety, and convenience and (ii) the location and design of the proposed improvements are in accordance with the best modern practices adopted in the interest of the safety and convenience of the public.

(c)  An itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be the full extent of the owner’s loss for the taking or the damage, or both, as the case may be.  It shall be signed by those who made the estimate, showing the capacity in which they acted, and the date on which it was made.

(d)  A copy of the return receipt from the letter of notification of intention to expropriate the property, as required by La. Rev. Stat. 19:311.

Acts 2001, No. 853, §1.