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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73321</law_id><section_number>56-437</section_number><catch_line>Effect of appraisal in case of suit; costs</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="56">Public Service Companies</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="13">Railroad Corporations</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Rights-Of-Way; Fires; Fences; Cattle Guards, Etc</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If the <span class="dictionary">railroad company</span> fails, for sixty days after such report is so returned to such clerk, to pay to the owner the full amount assessed by the board of appraisers under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Board of appraisers to appraise injured or killed livestock; duty of appraisers" href="/56-436/">56-436</a>, and the cost attending the assessment, the owner shall have the right to institute suit on the original <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span>. If, upon the <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, he recovers a <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> for an amount equal to or greater than the amount assessed in his favor by the board of appraisers, it shall be the duty of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to render <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> in his favor for the amount of such <span class="dictionary">verdict</span>, and costs of suit and, of such appraisement, and ten percent <span class="dictionary">damages</span> in addition thereto. If the owner recovers less than the amount so assessed, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall be rendered in his favor for the amount of the <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> and costs of suit and appraisement; but if the company has offered to pay the award, and the owner has refused to accept the same, and he recovers a <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> for an amount less than such assessment, <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall be rendered in his favor for the amount of his recovery, but the cost of the appraisement and action shall be taxed against him.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 3995; 1994, c. 352.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
