City of Garden City v. Lot Nine, Block Three

819 P.2d 1250, 16 Kan. App. 2d 174, 1991 Kan. App. LEXIS 866
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedNovember 1, 1991
DocketNo. 66,209
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 819 P.2d 1250 (City of Garden City v. Lot Nine, Block Three) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Garden City v. Lot Nine, Block Three, 819 P.2d 1250, 16 Kan. App. 2d 174, 1991 Kan. App. LEXIS 866 (kanctapp 1991).

Opinion

Brazil, J.:

In a forfeiture case arising from a drug sale conviction, the City of Garden City appeals the court’s order denying its petition for forfeiture of a residence owned by Pasquale M. Mesa. Kan. Const. art. 15, § 9; K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 65-4135. We affirm.

The parties submitted the case to the trial court upon stipulated facts, which we will briefly summarize.

[175]*175Mesa, his wife Ellen, and their minor daughter resided on the property that is the subject of this forfeiture action and have designated it as their homestead. Mesa was convicted of sale of cocaine from the garage attached to their residence. Ellen was aware that Mesa possessed controlled substances at their residence prior to Mesa’s arrest and conviction, but she did not approve of the drugs and hád threatened to leave because of Mesa’s usage.

The City sought forfeiture of the Mesas’ residence pursuant to K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 65-4135(a)(7)(A). The court noted that the statute authorizes forfeiture of a homestead interest if the holder of such interest is convicted of certain specified felonies. The court ruled that Ellen is not a “convicted person” within the meaning of the forfeiture statute, and thus, the statute is inapplicable to her. The court held that, under the Kansas Constitution article 15, § 9, Ellen’s homestead rights, barring a constitutionally enumerated exception, cannot be alienated without the joint consent of her and her husband. The court found no joint consent in this case and, consequently, denied the City’s petition.

The City contends Mesa’s felony conviction subjects to forfeiture the homestead rights of all other claimants of that homestead who possess actual knowledge of the illegal use of the homestead. Mesa contends the statute expressly requires a felony conviction of all those entitled to claim the homestead exemption (Ellen and their minor daughter) and that such a conviction is a required precedent in an action to forfeit a homestead under K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 65-4135(a)(7)(A).

K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 65-4135 reads in pertinent part:

“(a) The following are subject to forfeiture:
“(7) all real property, including any building or structure thereon, which is used or intended for use in violation of this act, if such violation constitutes a felony, except:
(A) A homestead shall not be subject to forfeiture under this section unless the claimant of the homestead has been convicted of a violation of the uniform controlled substances act, K.S.A. 65-4101 et seq., and amendments thereto, or a comparable federal law violation, if such violation constitutes a felony, which involves the unlawful manufacturing, compounding, selling, offering for sale, possessing with intent to sell, processing, importing or [176]*176exporting of a controlled substance, or has been convicted of conspiracy or attempt to commit such a violation. The homestead shall be subject to forfeiture under this section if the forfeiture proceedings and the conviction arise from the same violation, act, conduct or transaction and, in that event, the claimant so convicted shall be presumed to have consented to the forfeiture of the homestead by commission of the violation.” (Emphasis added.)

The statute clearly provides for forfeiture of a homestead only where the claimant of the homestead has been convicted of a violation of the controlled substance act.

The City’s contention, that because Ellen Mesa had knowledge that her homestead was being used for illegal purposes she therefore consented to the forfeiture of her homestead, is untenable in light of the statute. The district court specifically found Ellen’s knowledge of her husband’s drug use does not rise to the level of a conviction. The court also found that the Kansas Constitution prescribes that homesteads are exempt from forced sale under any process of law and shall not be alienated without the joint consent of husband and wife, when that relationship exists. The court found no such joint consent, thus barring the application of the statute.

The City contends the court erred in its interpretation of article 15, § 9 of the Kansas Constitution. The City states that the “joint consent” language of the Constitution applies only to alienations and therefore is inapplicable to forfeiture proceedings. That contention is at odds with State, ex rel., v. Mitchell, 194 Kan. 463, 399 P.2d 556 (1965). Mitchell concerned an action brought by the State to abate a liquor nuisance pursuant to K.S.A. 41-901 and K.S.A. 41-805. The State sought to enforce provisions of K.S.A. 41-806, which allowed that illegally operating taverns be padlocked. The district court found the “tavern” to constitute the homestead of the defendant and her husband and refused to issue an order padlocking the home. The court held such án order would violate article 15, § 9 of the Kansas Constitution. The Supreme Court reviewed the constitutional provision at issue, the exact provision at issue in the present case. That section reads in part:

"A homestead to the extent of . . . one acre within the limits of an incorporated town or city, occupied as a residence by the family of the owner, together with all the improvements on the same, shall be exempted from forced sale under any process of law, and shall not be alienated without [177]*177the joint consent of husband and wife, when that relation exists; but no property shall be exempt from sale for taxes, or for the payment of obligation contracted for the purchase of said premises, or for the erection of improvements thereon.” Kan. Const. art. 15, § 9.

Mitchell then held the word “ ‘alienated’ as used in our constitution means a parting with or surrendering of some interest in the homestead.” 194 Kan. at 465. The court then stated:

“ ‘[N]o incumbrance or lien or interest can ever attach to or affect the homestead, except the ones specifically mentioned in the constitution. . . . No alienation of the homestead by the husband alone, in whatever way it may be effected, is of any validity; nothing that he alone can do or suffer to be done, can cast the slightest cloud upon the title to the homestead.’ ” 194 Kan. at 465 (quoting Morris v. Ward, 5 Kan. 239, 244 [1869]).

The court upheld the district court’s ruling, concluding that “nothing less than the free consent of the resident owner of the homestead, and joint consent of husband and wife . . . , will suffice to alienate the homestead, except under the specified exceptions provided in .the constitution.” 194 Kan.

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819 P.2d 1250, 16 Kan. App. 2d 174, 1991 Kan. App. LEXIS 866, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-garden-city-v-lot-nine-block-three-kanctapp-1991.