1. Before the plaintiff obtains possession of the property, the plaintiff shall give to the owner of the property a copy of all appraisals of the property obtained by the plaintiff.

2. The plaintiff may move the court or a judge thereof at any time after the commencement of suit, on notice for such time as the court or judge may direct to the defendant if the defendant is a resident of the county or has appeared in the action, otherwise by serving a notice directed to the defendant on the clerk of the court, for an order permitting the plaintiff to occupy the premises sought to be condemned, pending the entry of judgment, and to do such work thereon as may be required for the easement, fee or property rights sought, according to its nature.

3. At the occupancy hearing, the court shall make a separate and distinct determination as to whether the property is being taken for a public use pursuant to NRS 37.010, if the defendant requests such a determination.

4. If the defendant does not request a determination pursuant to subsection 3 or if the court determines that the property is being taken for a public use pursuant to NRS 37.010, the court or judge shall take proof, by affidavit or otherwise, of the value of the premises sought to be condemned, the damages which will accrue from the condemnation and the reasons for requiring a speedy occupation, and shall grant or refuse the motion according to the equity of the case and the relative damages which may accrue to the parties.

5. If the motion is granted, the court or judge shall require the plaintiff to execute and file in court a bond to the defendant, with sureties, to be approved by the court or judge in a penal sum to be fixed by the court or judge, not less than double the value of the premises sought to be condemned and the damages which will ensue from condemnation and occupation, as the value and damages may appear to the court or judge on the hearing, and conditioned to pay the adjudged value of the premises and all damages if the property is condemned, and to pay all damages arising from occupation before judgment if the premises are not condemned, and all costs adjudged to the defendant in the action. The sureties shall justify before the court or judge, after a reasonable notice to the defendant of the time and place of justification.

6. In lieu of a bond the plaintiff, with the consent of the court, may deposit with the clerk of the court a sum equal to the value of the premises plus damages, as appraised by the plaintiff. Upon application of the defendant and upon notice to all parties, the court or judge may order the money deposited with the clerk of the court or any part thereof to be paid to the defendant. If the amount of the compensation awarded upon judgment is less than the sum deposited and paid to the defendant, the court shall enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the amount of the excess. Application by the defendant to the court for withdrawal of part or all of the money deposited and the payment of that money to the defendant does not prejudice the right of the defendant to contest the amount of compensation to be finally awarded. The receipt by the defendant of a part or all of the money deposited must be conditioned upon the waiver of all defenses except those relating to the amount of compensation.

7. The amount of the penal bond or the deposit is for the purpose of the motion only and is not admissible in evidence on final hearing.

8. The court or judge may also restrain the defendant from hindering or interfering with the occupation of the premises and the doing thereon of the work required for the easement, fee or property rights.

9. The provisions of this section requiring the execution and filing of a bond do not apply in any action or proceeding in which the State of Nevada is the plaintiff, but the public faith and credit of the State of Nevada is hereby pledged as security in lieu of the bond. The provisions of this subsection do not prevent the State of Nevada from depositing, in lieu of a pledge of the public faith and credit, with the clerk of the court a sum equal to the value of the premises plus any damages as appraised by the State.

[1911 CPA § 673; A 1955, 284] — (NRS A 1957, 140; 1959, 596; 1960, 419; 1963, 307; 1967, 814; 1973, 151; 1989, 633; 2007, 334)