West Virginia § 38-6-3 - 38-6-3. Suspending bond; settling claimant's title; how suits on bonds prosecuted.

§ 38-6-3. 38-6-3. Suspending bond; settling claimant's title; how suits on bonds prosecuted.

But the sale of any such property shall be suspended at the instance of any claimant thereof, who shall deliver to the officer bond with good security in a penalty equal to double the value thereof, payable to such officer, conditioned to pay to all persons who may be injured by suspending the sale thereof, until the claim thereto can be adjusted, such damages as they may sustain by such suspension. If the property claimed to be liable by virtue of the process aforesaid is in the possession of any of the parties against whom such process was issued, but is claimed by any other person or persons, the officer having such process in his hands to be executed shall, whether an indemnifying bond has been given or not, after notice to the claimant, or his agent, proceed to execute the same notwithstanding such claim, unless the claimant of such property, or someone for him shall give the suspending bond aforesaid, and shall, within thirty days after such bond is given, proceed to have the title to such property settled in accordance with the provisions of this article. And in case such claimant or someone for him fails to give such bond, or having given such bond fails to have such proceedings instituted as aforesaid, to settle the title thereto, such property shall be conclusively presumed to be the property of the party in possession. For the purposes of this section, a person making a claim of ownership of property on behalf of another shall be deemed to be the latter's agent, and the notice required by this section may be verbal or in writing. Upon any such bond as is mentioned in this or the two preceding sections, suit may be prosecuted in the name of the officer, for the benefit of the claimant, creditor, purchaser or other person injured, and such damages recovered in such suit as a jury may assess. The same may be prosecuted, and execution had, in the name of such officer, when he is dead, in like manner as if he were alive.