State v. Denny , 177 Ind. App. 4 ( 1978 )

White, J.

The State of Indiana raises but one issue in this appeal from the judgment entered in an eminent domain action: Whether the interest awarded the appellees, landowners, was correctly computed. Holding this appeal to be without merit and to have been prosecuted in bad faith we affirm with ten percent penalty and remand for execution.

The record shows the following sequence of events:

Jan. 11, 1960 Complaint filed.

Feb. 15, 1960 Appraisers’ report filed (damages $19,314.00).

Feb. 15, 1960 State’s exceptions to appraisers’ report filed.

Mar. 5, 1960 State deposits the sum of $19,314.00 with court; gains right to enter upon property.

Jan. 29, 1970 Landowner posts sufficient security, withdraws funds on deposit.

Oct. 16, 1975 Trial commenced.

Oct. 17, 1975 Jury awards landowners damages in the amount of $8,000.00.

Oct. 18, 1975 State files notice that it had offered landowners damages in the amount of $7,597.00.

Oct. 18, 1975-April 20, 1976 Parties and court have informal discussions on interest to be awarded.

April 20, 1976 Court enters judgment with 4°/o simple interest on the verdict from March 4,1968, until January 29, 1970 ($3,226.00).

The State argues that interest should be paid only on the sum of $403.00, the difference between its final offer and the jury’s verdict, since at the time of judgment Section 8 of Acts of 1905, ch. 48, the Eminent Domain Act of 1905, had been amended by Acts of 1975, P.L. 301, § 1, to provide in part:

“Fourth .... [appraisers’ award deposited with court by condemnor cannot be withdrawn by landowner without posting of surety]----Also Provided, that no surety or written undertaking shall be required in order for a defendant to withdraw those amounts previously offered by the plaintiff to the defendant, providing the plaintiff has previously notified the court in writing of the amounts so offered. . . .

* * *

“Sixth. In any trial or exceptions, the court or jury shall compute and allow interest at the rate of eight per cent¹ per annum on the amount of a defendant’s damages from the date plaintiff takes possession of the property; but.... in no event shall interest be allowed on that amount of money paid by the plaintiff to the clerk of the court which is equal to the amount of damages previously offered by the plaintiff to any defendant and which amount can be withdrawn by the defendant without filing any written undertaking or surety with the court for the withdrawal of that amount.”

The State contends, without citation of authority, that since the above statute was in effect at the time of judgment interest on the award must be computed as provided therein. Thus, it concludes, interest should not be paid on that amount of the verdict that represents the State’s final offer to the landowners prior to initiation of the condemnation proceedings.

We need not delve too deeply into the history of the eminent domain act to decide this appeal. We might note that because this action was tried on the State’s exceptions to the appraisers’ award the landowners were unable to withdraw any of the deposit prior to July 6,1961, the effective date of Acts of 1961, ch. 317, §1, but they were entitled to interest on the verdict. Schnull v. Indianapolis Union Railway Company (1921), 190 Ind. 572, 581, 131 N.E. 51, 53. We might also note that the aforementioned 1961 Act amended IC 1971, 32-11-1-8, to empower a property owner either to withdraw the deposit by posting surety and forfeiting his right to interest on that portion of the verdict or to not withdraw the deposit and collect interest on the entire verdict. State v. Young (1964), 246 Ind. 52, 199 N.E.2d 694, 698. In short, under the operative law during the period for which the judgment in this case awards interest (1960-1970) the landowners either could not withdraw the deposit at all or could do so only by posting surety. No interest was awarded for any time after the effective date of the 1975 amendment.

The State contends, without citation of authority, that interest on the judgment should be allowed in conformity with IC 1971, § 32-11-1-8, as it existed on the date judgment was entered. The further contention is that since the statute now both permits a landowner to withdraw the amount of the State’s final purchase order without posting surety and prohibits an award of interest on any amount that can be withdrawn without posting surety, the landowners herein are not entitled to interest for the time the money was on deposit even though they could not at that time withdraw the money without posting surety. Again, no authority is cited.²

In the absence of express language to the contrary, legislative enactments, including amendments to existing laws, are construed as being prospective in operation. This is especially true when the amendments affect vested rights and interests. State v. Morand (1976), 169 Ind.App. 604, 349 N.E.2d 718, 722; State ex rel. Mental Health Commissioner v. Estate of Lotts (1975), 165 Ind.App. 347, 332 N.E.2d 234, 237. The 1975 amendment of § 32-11-1-8 contains no language implying a retrospective legislative intent. Indeed, such an intent might be unconstitutional since the awarding of interest in earlier decisions was premised on the constitutional right to just compensation. Thus the judgment must be affirmed.

We further note that after the State’s Motion to Correct Errors was overruled but before the record of this cause was filed the Third District of this Court issued its decision in State v. Simley Corporation (1976), 169 Ind.App. 650, 351 N.E.2d 41, holding that the trial court did not commit error in awarding interest on the entire verdict in a condemnation action since the record does not show that the State had filed a separate formal notice of its final order to purchase. Absent such notice the landowner was not able to withdraw the deposit without posting surety and thus the no-interest provision of IC 1971, 32-11-1-8(6) was not applicable.

Simley Corporation admittedly did not specifically state that the 1975 amendment was to be given only prospective application even though the logic of the opinion would force that conclusion. Any lingering doubt, however, was eliminated in State v. Reuter (1976), 170 Ind.App. 353, 352 N.E.2d 806, 808, wherein the Third District specifically held that it is the filing of the notice that enables the landowner to withdraw the amount of the final offer without posting surety, and that “It is because [original emphasis] the amounts may be so withdrawn, that interest does not accrue upon them thereafter (Our emphasis).” The Reuter opinion was handed down on August 19, 1976; fifty days later, on October 8, 1976, the State filed its brief in this case. The State did not seek rehearing or transfer of the Simley Corporation decision or of the Reuter decision.

By proceeding with this appeal even though the sole issue raised had been decided adverse to the State’s position in two previous cases in which the State itself was a party, and by doing so through a brief devoid of cogent argument or citation of authority, the State has demonstrated bad faith sufficient to justify assessing damages against the State. Kirck v. Farmers and Merchants Bank of Boswell (1972), 151 Ind.App. 7, 18, 279 N.E.2d 254, 261. Such damages are to be in the amount of One Thousand One Hundred Twenty-two and Sixty Hundredths Dollars ($1,122.60), which amounts to ten percent of the judgment, including interest property computed, entered against the State.

The judgment is affirmed with ten percent penalty and the cause is remanded for execution in accordance with Appellate Rule 15(G).

Staton, J., participating by designation, concurs.

Buchanan, C.J., dissents with opinion.

1 . The same 1975 amendment increased the interest rate from four to eight percent.

2 . The State’s failure to cite any authority in support of its position could be treated as a waiver of the alleged error. See State of Florida, ex rel. O’Malley v. Department of Insurance (1973), 155 Ind.App. 168, 179, 291 N.E.2d 907, 914; AP. 8.3(A)(7).