King Ranch, Inc. has won a summary judgment in connection with a lawsuit filed against the Kleberg County Appraisal District that will result in a modification of previous taxable open space value for King Ranch property along corrected tax bills and refunds.

King Ranch was granted the default judgment after appraisal district officials failed to respond to the case and did not appear in court.

Judge J. Manuel Banales of the 105th District Court signed the order Dec. 9.

The court ordered the Kleberg County Appraisal District to modify its 2009 appraisal roll and correct it to reflect the taxable openspace land values according to the Texas Tax Code.

The court also ordered the appraisal district to notify the assessor for each affected taxing unit of the corrected taxable openspace land valuation for the 2009 tax year in order that the corrected tax bills and any refunds be provided according to the state tax code. Kleberg County Appraisal District was also ordered to pay $20,000 attorneys’ fees. King Ranch Inc. filed the lawsuit Sept. 8 protesting the excessive values on its rangeland.