If the petitioner, prior to the making of the award, shall have tendered to an interested person for his or her property or deposited in court for such property an amount which such interested person refused to accept or agree to as just compensation, all costs shall be assessed against such person in the event that the aforesaid amount tendered or deposited is equal to or in excess of the award fixed or confirmed by the court with respect to such parcel.
[22:135:1935; 1931 NCL § 6179.42]