TITLE 52

NUISANCES

CHAPTER 4

MORAL NUISANCES — ACTION FOR INJUNCTION AND ABATEMENT

52-411.  Costs. If the action is brought by a private person and the court finds that there were no reasonable grounds or probable cause for bringing said action, and the case is dismissed for that reason before trial, or if the action is dismissed for want of prosecution, the costs may be taxed to such person.

If the existence of the nuisance is established upon the trial, a judgment shall be entered which shall perpetually enjoin the defendant and any other person from further maintaining the nuisance at the place complained of, and the defendant from maintaining such nuisance elsewhere, and the entire expenses of such abatement, including attorney’s fees, shall be recoverable by plaintiff as a part of his costs of the lawsuit.

If the complaint is filed by a private person, it shall not be voluntarily dismissed except upon a sworn statement by the complainant and his attorney, setting forth the reason why the action should be dismissed and the dismissal approved by the prosecuting attorney in writing or in open court. If the judge is of the opinion that the action ought not to be dismissed, he may direct the prosecuting attorney to prosecute said action to judgment at the expense of the county, and if the action is continued more than one (1) term of court, any person who is a citizen of the county, or has an office therein, or the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney, may be substituted for the complainant and prosecute said action to judgment.

History:

[52-411, added 1976, ch. 82, sec. 4, p. 279.]