Opinion ID: 1441864
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Kentucky Declaratory Judgment Act

Text: The Kentucky DJA is codified in KRS Chapter 418. The Kentucky DJA is intended to be remedial in nature, and its purpose is to make courts more serviceable to the people by way of settling controversies and affording relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, duties and relations. KRS 418.080. We liberally interpret and administer the Kentucky DJA to accomplish its broad purpose. Id. KRS 418.040 provides that in any action in a court of record wherein it is made to appear that an actual controversy exists, the plaintiff may ask for a declaration of rights, either alone or with other relief, and the court may make a binding judgment. As a rule, the court has broad discretion to grant declaratory relief. The party seeking relief must show that an actual, justiciable controversy exists; proceedings for a declaratory judgment must not merely seek advisory answers to abstract questions. Axton v. Goodman, 205 Ky. 382, 265 S.W. 806 (1924). In general, the scope of matters to which a declaratory judgment may be rendered is broad. KRS 418.045 contains an extensive list of claims for which declaratory relief is available. Any person interested under a deed, will or other instrument of writing, or in a contract, written or parol; or whose rights are affected by statute, municipal ordinance, or other government regulation; or who is concerned with any title to property, office, status or relation; or who as fiduciary or beneficiary is interested in any estate, provided always that an actual controversy exists with respect thereto, may apply for and secure a declaration of his rights or duties, even though no consequential or other relief be asked. KRS 418.045 bears the title Persons who may obtain declaration of rights; enumeration not exclusive. In other words, this section of the Kentucky DJA, enumerating certain specific situations, is not exclusive as to other situations. Although the scope of the Kentucky DJA is liberal and wide, there are, however, limits. Declaratory judgment does not fit every occasion and does not replace the existing system of remedies and actions. For example, an action for a declaratory judgment cannot be instituted to secure a determination of substantive rights involved in a pending suit. Gibbs v. Tyree, 287 Ky. 656, 154 S.W.2d 732, 733(1941). Moreover, the Court may refuse to exercise the power to declare rights, duties or other legal relations in any case where a decision under it would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy which gave rise to the action, or in any case where the declaration or construction is not necessary or proper at the time under all the circumstances. KRS 418.065. Similar discretion can be found in the Federal DJA, 28 U.S.C.A. § 2201(a), and in the Uniform DJA: The court may refuse to render or enter a declaratory judgment or decree where such judgment or decree, if rendered or entered, would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding. Unif. Declaratory Judgments Act § 6 (1922). The phrase enumeration not exclusive in the title of KRS 418.045 also appears in Section 5 of the Uniform DJA. The Kentucky DJA contains an additional sentence that does not appear in the Uniform DJA: The enumeration herein contained does not exclude other instances wherein a declaratory judgment may be prayed and granted under KRS 418.040, whether such other instance be of a similar or different character to those so enumerated. KRS 418.045. The sentence merely clarifies the principle, as found in the title of KRS 418.045, that this section of the Kentucky DJA, enumerating certain specific situations, is not exclusive as to other situations. It, however, by itself, does not expand the scope of the Kentucky DJA beyond that of other states that have adopted the Uniform DJA.