54-13-10. Mandatory mediation--Requirements--Voluntary mediation.
A creditor desiring to commence an action or a proceeding in this state to enforce a debt totaling fifty thousand dollars or greater against agricultural land or agricultural property of the borrower or to foreclose a contract to sell agricultural land or agricultural property or to enforce a secured interest in agricultural land or agricultural property or pursue any other action, proceeding or remedy relating to agricultural land or agricultural property of the borrower shall file a request for mandatory mediation with the director of the agricultural mediation program. No creditor may commence any such action or proceeding until the creditor receives a mediation release as described in this chapter, or the debtor waives mediation or until a court determines after notice and hearing, that the time delay required for mediation would cause the creditor to suffer irreparable harm because there are reasonable grounds to believe that the borrower may waste, dissipate, or divert agricultural property or that the agricultural property is in imminent danger of deterioration. Dismissal of a bankruptcy proceeding, abandonment by a bankruptcy trustee, release or relief from a bankruptcy stay, or release or termination of a receivership proceeding shall have the effect of a mediation release. Any debt that is less than fifty thousand dollars may be mediated through a voluntary mediation if a request is made and accepted by both borrower and creditor.
Source: SL 1988, ch 384, §10; SL 1991, ch 394, §8; SL 2001, ch 259, §8; SL 2015, ch 203, §32.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 54 - Debtor and Creditor
Chapter 13 - State Farm Mediation Board
Section 54-13-1 - Definition of terms.
Section 54-13-2 - Agriculture mediation program--Purposes--Administration.
Section 54-13-4 - Staff services--Employment of director and other employees--Payment of expenses.
Section 54-13-6 - Contracts with state agencies, nonprofit corporations, or individuals.
Section 54-13-7 - Assistance to borrower or creditor.
Section 54-13-10 - Mandatory mediation--Requirements--Voluntary mediation.
Section 54-13-12 - Length of mediation period--Notice to borrower--Additional meetings.
Section 54-13-14 - State or federal time periods deemed to run concurrently.
Section 54-13-16 - Statement of waiver or failure to reach agreement deemed release.
Section 54-13-17 - Time limitation on waiver by borrower.
Section 54-13-19 - Other rights and duties, penalties, and actions not affected.
Section 54-13-20 - Mediator or ag finance counselor immunity from civil liability--Qualifications.