35-1-838. Court action. (1) If a demand for payment under 35-1-837 remains unsettled, the corporation shall commence a proceeding within 60 days after receiving the payment demand and shall petition the court to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If the corporation does not commence the proceeding within the 60-day period, it shall pay each dissenter whose demand remains unsettled the amount demanded.
     (2) The corporation shall commence the proceeding in the district court of the county where a corporation's principal office is located or, if its principal office is not located in this state, in Lewis and Clark County. If the corporation is a foreign corporation, it shall commence the proceeding in the county in this state where the principal office of the domestic corporation merged with or whose shares were acquired by the foreign corporation was located or, if the domestic corporation did not have its principal office in the state at the time of the transaction, in Lewis and Clark County.
     (3) The corporation shall make all dissenters whose demands remain unsettled, whether or not residents of this state, parties to the proceeding as in an action against their shares, and all parties must be served with a copy of the petition. Nonresidents may be served by certified mail or by publication as provided by law.
     (4) The jurisdiction of the district court in which the proceeding is commenced under subsection (2) is plenary and exclusive. The court may appoint one or more persons as appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on the question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described in the order appointing them or in any amendment to it. The dissenters are entitled to the same discovery rights as parties in other civil proceedings.
     (5) Each dissenter made a party to the proceeding is entitled to judgment:
     (a) for the amount, if any, by which the court finds the fair value of the dissenter's shares plus interest exceeds the amount paid by the corporation; or
     (b) for the fair value plus accrued interest of the dissenter's after-acquired shares for which the corporation elected to withhold payment under 35-1-836.

     History: En. Sec. 145, Ch. 368, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 240, L. 2007.