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§ 4. Rights of way; eminent domain. No right of way shall be appropriated to the use of any corporation, until full compensation therefor be first made in money, or secured by a deposit of money, to the owner, irrespective of any benefit from any improvement proposed by such corporation.

History: Adopted by convention, July 29, 1859; ratified by electors, October 4, 1859; L. 1861, p. 63; January 29, 1861.

Cross References to Related Sections:

Eminent domain procedure act, see 26-101, 26-501 et seq.

Law Review and Bar Journal References:

Constitutional Law: Fifth Amendment Just Compensation Clause Supports Damage Award for Temporary Regulatory Taking, Roger H. Stewart, 27 W.L.J. 382, 383, 384 (1988).

Condemnation of Water and Water Rights in Kansas, John C. Peck and Kent Weatherby, 42 K.L.R. 827, 830 (1994).

Flooding of Private Property by the Construction of a Public Improvement: Isn't It Time for Kansas to Call It What It Really Is—A Compensable Taking? Nicole M. Zomberg, 38 W.L.J. 209 (1998).

CASE ANNOTATIONS

1. Proceedings essentially proceedings in rem, proper notice binds all parties. K. & C.P. Rly. Co. v. Phipps, 4 Kan. App. 252, 257, 45 P. 926.

2. Where proceedings regular, owner estopped by failure to appeal. C. K. & W. Rld. Co. v. Selders, 4 Kan. App. 497, 504, 44 P. 1012.

3. Value considered immediately before and after location of road. Gulf Railroad Co. v. Owen, 8 Kan. 409, 424.

4. Land must be paid for irrespective of any benefits accruing. Saint Joseph & D.C.R.R. Co. v. Orr, 8 Kan. 419.

5. Holding statutes authorizing condemnation for railroad not in conflict herewith. Hunt v. Smith, 9 Kan. 137, 145.

6. Giving landowner new remedy does not take away former rights. A.T. & Santa Fe Rld. Co. v. Weaver, 10 Kan. 344, 351.

7. Taking private property for use of highway discussed. Comm'rs of Shawnee Co. v. Beckwith, 10 Kan. 603.

8. No right to land until money paid or deposit made. St. Jos. & D.C. Rld. Co. v. Callender, 13 Kan. 496.

9. Money deposited with county treasurer, at company's risk pending proceedings. Blackshire v. A.T. & S.F. Rld. Co., 13 Kan. 514.

10. Title acquired in "right of way" depends on statute under which acquired. Challiss v. A.T. & Santa Fe Rld. Co., 16 Kan. 117.

11. Disregarding "benefit" does not apply to taking for public use. Comm'rs of Pottawatomie Co. v. O'Sullivan, 17 Kan. 58, 60.

12. Compensation included value of property taken, also all loss sustained. Reisner v. Union Depot & Rld. Co., 27 Kan. 382, 388.

13. Legislature may make commissioners' award final as to either party. C.B.U.P. Rld. Co. v. A.T. & S.F. Rld. Co., 28 Kan. 453.

14. Discussion of what benefits could be set off, if any. C.B.U.P. Rld. Co. v. Andrews, 30 Kan. 590, 596, 2 P. 677.

15. Condemnation proceedings waived and suit brought for value of land. Cohen v. St.L.Ft.S. & W. Rld. Co., 34 Kan. 158, 8 P. 138.

16. City cannot grant right of way over private property of proposed street. W. & W. Rld. Co. v. Fechheimer, 36 Kan. 45, 12 P. 362.

17. Loss sustained to use of land with other land allowed. Comm'rs of Smith Co. v. Labore, 37 Kan. 480, 15 P. 577.

18. Damages never less than actual value; improper testimony discussed. W. & W. Rld. Co. v. Kuhn, 38 Kan. 675, 677, 17 P. 322.

19. Section does not apply where land not actually taken. O.O.C. & C.G. Rld. Co. v. Larson, 40 Kan. 301, 307, 19 P. 661.

20. Discussion of different elements of damages to be taken into consideration. L. & W. Rld. Co. v. Ross, 40 Kan. 598, 601, 20 P. 197.

21. Section applies only to canals, railroads, and other similar cases. Callen v. Junction City, 43 Kan. 627, 630, 23 P. 652. Criticized: Town of Fairbanks v. Barrack, 282 F. 420.

22. Railroad company must make full compensation regardless of benefits accruing. C.K. & W. Rld. Co. v. Woodward, 47 Kan. 191, 193, 27 P. 836.

23. Company taking title by eminent domain protected against secret equities. Phipps v. Railway Co., 58 Kan. 142, 145, 48 P. 573.

24. Where land taken for public use, compensation not condition precedent. Buckwalter v. School District, 65 Kan. 603, 605, 70 P. 605.

25. Telephone line held not an additional servitude on highway. McCann v. Telephone Co., 69 Kan. 210, 212, 76 P. 870.

26. Injury to adjacent property from smoke and cinders, damages not recoverable. Railway Co. v. Armstrong, 71 Kan. 366, 371, 80 P. 978.

27. Disregarding benefits may be harsh, but courts bound by constitution. Hall v. Electric Railroad Co., 89 Kan. 70, 72, 130 P. 664.

28. Mere consequential damage does not amount to taking within section. Murphy v. Fairmont Township, 89 Kan. 760, 767, 133 P. 169.

29. Benefits not disregarded where additional grounds taken for shops, etc. Smith v. Railway Co., 90 Kan. 757, 759, 136 P. 253.

30. Compensation not condition precedent in constructing sewer; section not applicable. Railway Co. v. City of Hiawatha, 95 Kan. 471, 472, 148 P. 744.

31. Arbitration; ownership of condemnation money considered. Lillard v. Johnson County, 106 Kan. 479, 480, 188 P. 223.

32. Condemnation proceedings, measure of damages not necessarily market value. Wood v. School District, 108 Kan. 1, 3, 193 P. 1049.

33. Section not applicable to lands appropriated for sewer use. Sullivan v. City of Goodland, 110 Kan. 359, 361, 203 P. 732.

34. Payment of judgment condition precedent to passing of title. Zimmerman v. Kansas City Northwestern R. Co., 144 F. 622. Appeal dismissed: 210 U.S. 336, 28 S. Ct. 730, 52 L.Ed. 1084.

35. Condemnation to widen street is arbitrary abuse of discretion, if benefit district charged entire cost thereof consists solely of condemnee's property. Engstrom v. City of Wichita, 121 Kan. 122, 123, 245 P. 1033.

36. Benefits deducted where land taken for railway purposes other than right of way. Lee v. Missouri Pac. Rld. Co., 134 Kan. 225, 229, 5 P.2d 1102.

37. Eminent domain statute (12-639) providing no prospective or anticipated damages held valid. Loomis v. City of Augusta, 151 Kan. 343, 345, 347, 99 P.2d 988.

38. Property taken without condemnation; remedy at law; writ of mandamus denied. Atchison v. State Highway Comm., 161 Kan. 661, 663, 171 P.2d 287.

39. Property consequentially damaged by erosion; no compensation for public use. Sester v. Belvue Drainage District, 162 Kan. 1, 5, 6, 173 P.2d 619.

40. Applicability of section to city mentioned but not determined. Board of County Comm'rs v. Robb, 166 Kan. 122, 123, 124, 133, 134, 199 P.2d 530.

41. Cited; no appeal by petitioner after award deposited and possession taken under K.S.A. 26-102 (now repealed). Lowrey v. State Highway Comm., 170 Kan. 549, 551, 228 P.2d 208.

42. Kansas turnpike authority act (K.S.A. 68-2001 through 68-2020) does not contravene section. State, ex rel., v. Kansas Turnpike Authority, 176 Kan. 683, 699, 273 P.2d 198.

43. "Appropriated" synonymous with "Taken"; no compensation for consequential damages. Richert v. Board of Education of the City of Newton, 177 Kan. 502, 506, 280 P.2d 596.

44. Right of access to highway is property right; compensation necessary to take. Atkinson v. State Highway Commission, 184 Kan. 658, 664, 339 P.2d 334. Overruled on other grounds: Brock v. State Highway Commission, 195 Kan. 361, 372, 404 P.2d 934.

45. Condemnation petition must plead facts required by statute; jurisdictional; proceeding vitiated. Dick v. Drainage District No. 2, 187 Kan. 520, 526, 358 P.2d 744.

46. Allowance of attorney's fee requires clear statutory authority. Schwartz v. Western Power & Gas Co., Inc., 208 Kan. 844, 847, 494 P.2d 1113.

47. Provision prevents K.S.A. 46-901 et seq. from being construed to provide governmental immunity to state highway commission in cases where actions in the nature of inverse condemnation have been authorized. Sanders v. State Highway Commission, 211 Kan. 776, 787, 508 P.2d 981.

48. Unity of ownership rule in condemnation cases should not thwart full compensation requirement based upon land's most advantageous use (dissenting opinion). Hogue v. Kansas Power & Light Co., 212 Kan. 339, 347, 510 P.2d 1308.

49. Applied; allowance of attorney fees under K.S.A. 26-509 upheld. City of Wichita v. Chapman, 214 Kan. 575, 585, 521 P.2d 589.

50. Cited in holding "taking" by inverse condemnation through plotting and planning must be coupled with legal restriction on use. Lone Star Industries, Inc. v. Secretary, Dept. of Transp., 234 Kan. 121, 123, 671 P.2d 511 (1983).

51. Cited in opinion certifying to U.S. district court that K.S.A. 60-507 is statute of limitations applicable to inverse condemnation proceedings. Hiji v. City of Garnett, 248 Kan. 1, 12, 804 P.2d 950 (1991).

52. Present possessory rights to land not necessary in inverse condemnation action. Isley v. City of Wichita, 38 Kan. App. 2d 1022, 1025, 174 P.3d 919 (2008).

53. Violation of a restrictive covenant running with subdivision land by a party with the power of eminent domain is a compensable taking of the dominant subdivision parcel owner's private property interest in real estate, and that owner may sue in inverse condemnation. Creegan v. State, 305 Kan. 1156, 391 P.3d 36 (2017).