Pierson-Trapp Co. v. Knippenberg, PIERSON-TRAPP

Decision Date26 February 1965
Docket NumberPIERSON-TRAPP
Citation387 S.W.2d 587
PartiesCOMPANY, Appellant, v. Julian KNIPPENBERG et al., Appellees.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky

Robin Griffin, Miller, Griffin & Marks, Lexington, for appellant.

Armand Angelucci, Lexington, for appellees.

MONTGOMERY, Judge.

Upon consideration of a petition for a zone change, the vote of the membership of the City-County Planning Commission of Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, was recorded as follows: In favor, members Cook, Jefferson Bryan, Benton, and Knippenberg; opposed, members Llewellyn and Webb. Members Rogers and Lagrew were present but stated that they abstained. Member McGoodwin was not present. In an appropriate proceeding in the circuit court, it was adjudged that the vote did not meet the requirement of KRS 100.420 for a majority vote. Pierson-Trapp Company, applicant for the zone change, appeals and contends that the abstaining votes should have been counted as affirmative votes, thus giving the petitioner the majority required by KRS 100.420.

The rule is that when a quorum of a governing body is present those members who are present and do not vote will be considered as acquiescing with the majority. Morton v. Jungerman, 89 Ky. 505, 12 S.W. 944; Ray v. Armstrong, 140 Ky. 800, 131 S.W. 1039; Lawrence County v. Lawrence Fiscal Court, 191 Ky. 45, 229 S.W. 139; Montgomery v. Claybrooks, 213 Ky. 493, 281 S.W. 469; Hyden v. Tarter, 302 Ky. 184, 194 S.W.2d 174. By application of the rule seven of the ten votes should have been considered as favorable to applicant's petition. This point was not decided in Craft v. Hall, Ky., 275 S.W.2d 410.

The appellees have failed to file a brief. The appellant's statement of facts and issues is accepted as correct, and its brief reasonably appears to sustain a reversal of the judgment. RCA 1.260(c)(2 & 3).

Judgment reversed.

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9 cases
  • Jensen v. Turner County Board of Adjustment
    • United States
    • South Dakota Supreme Court
    • 14 Marzo 2007
    ...They were present, and are counted as acquiescing in what was done when they did not vote in the negative."); Pierson-Trapp Co. v. Knippenberg, 387 S.W.2d 587, 588 (Ky.1965) (stating rule that "when a quorum ... is present those members who are present and do not vote will be considered as ......
  • Payne v. Petrie
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky
    • 20 Octubre 1967
    ...applicable rule has been stated in varying language. Some of the cases in which the question has been faced include Pierson-Trapp Co. v. Knippenberg, Ky., 387 S.W.2d 587; Morton v. Jungerman, 89 Ky. 505, 12 S.W. 944; Ray v. Armstrong, 140 Ky. 800, 131 S.W. 1039; Lawrence County v. Lawrence ......
  • Board of Ed. of McCreary County v. Nevels
    • United States
    • Kentucky Court of Appeals
    • 11 Marzo 1977
    ...superintendent. We agree. The applicable rule was stated in Payne v. Petrie, Ky., 419 S.W.2d 761, 763 (1967): "In Pierson-Trapp Co. v. Knippenberg, Ky., 387 S.W.2d 587, 588, it was written: 'The rule is that when a quorum of a governing body is present those members who are present and do n......
  • Dry Creek Valley Assn., Inc. v. Board of Supervisors
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • 7 Marzo 1977
    ...present those members who are present and do not vote will be considered as acquiescing with the majority.' (Pierson-Trapp Company v. Knippenberg (Ky. 1965) 387 S.W.2d 587, 588; Payne v. Petrie (Ky.1967) 419 S.W.2d 761, 763); 'We are persuaded that the trial court erred in holding that the ......
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