Texas Natural Resources Code 11.076 – Unlawful Enclosures
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(a) If the governor is credibly informed that any portion of the public land or the land which belongs to any of the special land funds has been enclosed or that fences have been erected on the land in violation of law, he may direct the attorney general to institute suit in the name of the state for the recovery of the land, damages, and fees.
(b) The fee for the attorney general may not be less than $10 if the amount recovered is less than $100, but if the amount of recovery is over $100, the fee shall be 10 percent paid by the defendant for the use and occupancy of the land and the removal of the enclosure and fences.
Terms Used In Texas Natural Resources Code 11.076
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
- Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) The damages may not be less than five cents an acre a year for the period of occupancy.
(d) In a suit brought under this section, the court shall issue a writ of sequestration directed to any sheriff in the state requiring him to take into actual custody the land and any property on the land which belongs to the person who is unlawfully occupying the land and to hold the land and other property until the court issues further orders. The writ may be executed by the sheriff to whom it is delivered, and he shall proceed to execute the writ.
(e) The defendant in the suit may replevy the property as provided in other cases by executing the bond required by law.
(f) An appeal from a suit brought under this section has precedence over other cases.
(g) If judgment is recovered by the state in the suit, the court shall order the enclosure or fences removed and shall charge the costs of the suit to the defendant. Property on the land which belongs to the defendant and which is not exempt from execution may be used to pay costs and damages in addition to the personal liability of the defendant.