Kansas Court of Appeals Lets Lynch Couple’s Equal Protection Claim Continue Over $550,000 Damages

In April 2020, the Lynch-owned Whiskey Ridge, LLC secured a special‑use permit to build a wedding venue in Leavenworth County, but the county’s 2006 International Building Code—adopted in December 2020—mandated fire‑suppression sprinklers that the original permit omitted.

The pandemic stalled construction for over two years, and when the couple returned in mid‑2022 to seek a new permit, county officials informed them that the original permit had lapsed and that a new one would require sprinklers.

The Lychns sued for at least $550,000, alleging that the county’s refusal to honor the initial permit, denial of a sprinkler exemption, and the temporary operating conditions imposed undue financial harm.

The district court dismissed all claims, but on Friday the Kansas Court of Appeals reversed that decision on the equal‑protection claim, finding that Whiskey Ridge had demonstrated a disparate treatment compared to a wooden‑structure venue that was granted a similar exemption.

The appeals court kept the tortious‑interference claims dismissed without prejudice, allowing the Lychns to re‑file within 30 days, and the equal‑protection case will advance to a trial slated for July 2026.