Rieke v. Kansas Department of Revenue

18 P.3d 243, 28 Kan. App. 2d 476, 2001 Kan. App. LEXIS 23
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedJanuary 12, 2001
DocketNo. 83,734
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 18 P.3d 243 (Rieke v. Kansas Department of Revenue) 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
Rieke v. Kansas Department of Revenue, 18 P.3d 243, 28 Kan. App. 2d 476, 2001 Kan. App. LEXIS 23 (kanctapp 2001).

Opinion

Knudson, J.:

The Kansas Department of Revenue (KDR) appeals the district court’s grant of partial summary judgment to Leon Rieke. The issues raised on appeal concern subject matter juris[477]*477diction, service of process, and whether Rieke should have been awarded attorney fees and costs. We affirm the judgment of the district court.

Pursuant to K.S.A. 79-3617 and K.S.A. 79-3643, KDR issued a warrant for delinquent taxes directing the sheriff of Johnson County inter alia to levy upon and sell the property of Leon Rieke to satisfy taxes of $46,231.37 owed by Mid America Sports Complex, Inc. After this tax warrant was filed with the clerk of the district court in Johnson County, Rieke filed a K.S.A. Chapter 60 proceeding seeking injunctive relief. On cross-motions for summaiy judgment, the district court restrained enforcement of the warrant, declared the warrant illegally issued as to Rieke, decided KDR had the legal capacity to be sued, detennined it did have jurisdiction, decided KDR had been properly served with summons, and awarded attorney fees against KDR. KDR’s motion for reconsideration was denied.

In its answer to Rieke’s petition, KDR admitted service of process was accomplished under K.S.A. 60-304(d). Subsequently, KDR filed an unsuccessful motion to dismiss contending inter alia it lacked the legal capacity to be sued and venue was not proper in Johnson County. In its very detailed motion raising numerous issues, KDR did not raise an issue regarding service of process. Approximately 2 years after this lawsuit was filed, Rieke filed an amended petition that once again alleged service of process under K.S.A. 60-304(d). In its answer to this amended petition, KDR made a 180-degree turn and for the first time denied service of process was properly effected.

After filing its answer to Rieke’s petition, KDR unsuccessfully pursued judgment on the pleadings under K.S.A. 60-212(c). Inexplicably, in its very comprehensive motion, KDR did not allege that the tax warrant had been dismissed without prejudice shortly after Rieke filed suit. Later, at a hearing upon the motion, KDR still did not infonn the district court of the dismissal of the warrant or argue that the court had been divested of jurisdiction as a result.

In this appeal, KDR does not attack the district court’s ruling that the tax warrant was unlawfully issued. KDR’s decision to leave this stone unturned was preordained by our holding in Copeland [478]*478v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue, 25 Kan. App. 2d 717, 970 P.2d 69 (1998), rev. denied 266 P.2d 1107 (1999), and the 1999 legislature’s amendment of K.S.A. 79-3643 (L. 1999, ch. 94, § 10).

After discovery was completed and over 2 years after the litigation had been filed, KDR filed its motion for summary judgment premised on the dismissal of the tax warrant. Rieke filed a motion for summary judgment premised upon a denial of due process and requested a permanent injunction, attorney fees, and costs. KDR countered with a second motion for summary judgment, raising issues of jurisdiction and the sufficiency of service of process. The district court partially granted Rieke’s motion — a permanent injunction was entered and attorney fees were awarded — and largely denied KDR’s motions. We now turn to a discussion of the issues KDR presents on appeal.

SUBTECT MATTER JURISDICTION

KDR contends it lacks capacity in law to be sued. In Mid American Credit Union v. Board of Sedgwick County Comm’rs, 15 Kan. App. 2d 216, 224, 806 P.2d 479, rev. denied 248 P.2d 996 (1991), the court held:

“[UJnless a statute specifically provides otherwise, a subordinate government agency does not have the capacity to be sued. Hopkins v. State, 237 Kan. 601, 606, 702 P.2d 311 (1985). Here, the State of Kansas was sued and served with process. While the KDR may not be able to be sued alone, it may be sued in conjunction with the State.”

KDR argues there is no statutory authority permitting KDR to be sued. The district court disagreed and provided the following rationale in its memorandum decision denying KDR’s motion for reconsideration:

“The Court rejected the KDR’s argument that it lacks capacity to be sued when it ruled on the KDR’s motion to dismiss in 1996. (Mem. Dec., 9/18/96, at p. 2.) At that time, the Court emphasized K.S.A. 79-3617 as the basis for its subject matter jurisdiction, but also discussed the nature of the Court’s authority under K.S.A. 60-907. (Mem. Dec., 9/18/96, at pp. 4-5). In its later ruling on the KDR’s motion for summary judgment, the Court concluded that subject matter jurisdiction is proper both under K.S.A. 60-907 and under the [Act for Judicial Review and Civil Enforcement of Agency Actions]. (Mem. Dec., 3/11/98, at p. 11.)”

[479]*479KDR has conceded under our holding in Copeland, Rieke did not fail to exhaust administrative remedies. Regarding injunctive actions, K.S.A. 60-907(b) provides: “Injunctive relief may be granted to enjoin any public officer, board, or body from entering into any contract or doing any act not authorized by law that may result in the creation of an additional levy of a tax, charge or assessment.”

In R. D. Andersen Constr. Co. v. Kansas Dept. of Human Resources, 7 Kan. App. 2d 453, 457, 643 P.2d 1142, rev. denied 231 Kan. 801 (1982), the court stated:

“The rule of law allowing extraordinary judicial remedies to curtail or prohibit unlawful action by an administrative agency has long been recognized by the Kansas Supreme Court. In State, ex rel., v. Mohler, 98 Kan. 465, 472, 158 Pac. 408 (1916), in discussing administrative power, the Court said:
‘If this power is abused, the courts are open to the aggrieved party, if not by some statutory review, then by the extraordinary and prerogative remedies of injunction or mandamus.’ ”

KDR has conceded its issuance of the tax warrant was an unlawful action. We conclude the district court was correct in interpreting K.S.A.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
18 P.3d 243, 28 Kan. App. 2d 476, 2001 Kan. App. LEXIS 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rieke-v-kansas-department-of-revenue-kanctapp-2001.