Opinion ID: 1301884
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: junior appropriators exercise preference rights in condemnation proceeding

Text: Meanwhile, on August 17, 2007, the junior appropriators filed a petition for condemnation of NPPD's water rights in the Boyd County Court. In their petition, the junior appropriators stated that they still disputed the validity of NPPD's appropriation right but [b]ecause resolution of this issue may take several irrigation seasons, they elected to also exercise their preference rights. They also explicitly stated that they did not waive or concede any claims, allegations, or positions regarding the Department's administrative proceeding. The county court appointed appraisers who established a compensation award for NPPD for 20 years. NPPD is currently appealing that award. After the appraisers returned an award and the Court of Appeals dismissed the first appeal, the Department asked its director to dismiss the junior appropriators' administrative proceeding. It argued that because the junior appropriators exercised their constitutional preference rights, they were not subject to any closing notices for 20 years. Because the junior appropriators were not subject to a closing notice to satisfy NPPD's appropriations for 20 years, the Department argued that they lacked standing in the administrative proceeding. NPPD also filed a motion to dismiss. It claimed that the junior appropriators' condemnation proceeding had mooted the appropriation controversy.