(a) Any person who asserts a claim to any interest in any part of the public lands of the State for which a plot or description has been recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in and for the county in which the lands are situate shall, if the State is successful in defeating such claim or any part thereof through any judicial proceeding, be liable for all costs and expenses of the State incurred in defeating the claim or any part thereof, including, without limitation, investigative costs, administrative costs, salaries of state employees, surveying costs, engineering costs, title search fees, attorneys' fees of privately retained counsel and attorneys of the Department of Justice, consultant fees and contract costs; provided however, that such cost and expense recovery should not be provided if the claim has substantial merit.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term “person” shall include any individual, group of individuals, firm, association, partnership, company, corporation, joint-venture, trust, estate or other legal entity. Any liability for costs and expenses imposed under this section on any corporation shall also be imposed jointly and severally on the officers and directors of such corporation in their individual capacities.
(c) In order to recover costs and expenses under this section, the State shall, within 45 days of the entry of the final order or judgment, file a petition with the court which exercised jurisdiction over the matter, which petition shall set forth a statement of the costs and expenses incurred by the State.
Structure Delaware Code
§ 4502. Cessions of public land to United States.
§ 4503. Location and payment for grants of public lands.
§ 4505. Survey of public lands.
§ 4506. Sale of public lands and products.
§ 4507. Delivery of deeds; restrictions therein.
§ 4508. Forfeiture of public lands to State.
§ 4509. Improvement of public lands.
§ 4510. Lease of public lands; forfeiture of lease.
§ 4511. Lease of mineral rights in public lands; utility rights.
§ 4512. Rent from lease of public lands.
§ 4513. Prohibitions against leasing of oyster beds.
§ 4514. Highways through public lands.
§ 4515. Credit of moneys for Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
§ 4516. Public money expended for roads.
§ 4517. Power of Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
§ 4519. Title or interest in public lands obtainable only by deed, conveyance or written instrument.
§ 4520. Liability for costs and expenses incurred by State in defeating claims to public lands.