Whenever any lessee shall fail to pay the annual rental for any lands leased when the same becomes due, it shall be optional with the commissioner of school and public lands to bring suit against such lessee in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the land is situated, for the recovery of such rental, damages, and costs occasioned by such failure, or to declare such lease forfeited and to proceed to offer such lands for lease.

In case the commissioner considers it to the interest of the state to commence suit against such lessee, it is hereby made the duty of the state’s attorney of such county to commence and prosecute such suit whenever he is directed to do so by the commissioner. All money arising from such suit shall be paid into the county treasury of the proper county and be placed to the credit of the interest and income fund of the class to which such lands belong.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 5-5-17

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.

Source: SL 1917, ch 339, § 13; RC 1919, § 5645; SL 1921, ch 358; SDC 1939, § 15.0410.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 5 Contents