Opinion ID: 1773674
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: retroactive application of krs 416.670

Text: Prior to 1980, KRS 416.670 specifically exempted condemnations by the Cabinet from prior landowners' rights of redemption. The legislature, however, deleted this exemption from the language of KRS 416.670 in 1980. KRS 416.670 now reads in pertinent part: (1) Development shall be started on any property which has been acquired through condemnation within a period of eight (8) years from the date of the deed to the condemnor or the date on which the condemnor took possession, whichever is earlier, for the purpose for which it was condemned. The failure of the condemnor to so begin development shall entitle the current landowner to repurchase the property at the price the condemnor paid to the landowner for the property. The current owner of the land from which the condemned land was taken may reacquire the land as aforementioned. In Kelly, supra , this Court held that the Thompsons, whose land was condemned prior to 1980, could avail themselves of the right of redemption provided in KRS 416.670 without such constituting a retroactive application of the statute in violation of KRS 446.080(3) [3] . Specifically, we held that [i]t is the failure of the condemning authority to begin development within eight years, and not the condemnation, which entitles the current owner the opportunity to repurchase such surplus property. Kelly, 983 S.W.2d at 459. Therefore, since the Thompsons' land was condemned in 1978, their right of redemption did not arise until eight years later in 1986. Since this occurred after the statute was amended in 1980, the Thompsons are free to avail themselves of the rights conferred upon them by KRS 416.670. Likewise, the Martins' land was condemned in 1979 and therefore, their right of redemption did not arise until 1987, seven years after KRS 416.670 was amended. They too have a cause of action against the Cabinet under the statute. The Vandertolls, however, do not benefit from KRS 416.670's amendment because their land was condemned in 1967, thus their opportunity to repurchase their land accrued in 1975. At that time, KRS 416.670 contained a specific exemption for condemnations originated by the Cabinet. Since the statute was not applicable to the Cabinet in 1975, the Vandertolls cannot seek to enforce its provisions upon the Cabinet; therefore, they do not have a cause of action under KRS 416.670. Accordingly, we hold that to allow landowners whose rights to repurchase their condemned property are triggered before the statutory amendment of KRS 416.670 in 1980 (by the expiration of eight years without development), would be to allow retroactive application of that statute in violation of KRS 446.080(3).