The legal tug-of-war over 16 acres of land and a historic Kentucky home will continue following a Friday ruling by the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The court affirmed a lower court’s decision to allow the Hardin County Board of Education to proceed with counterclaims against a couple trying to block the sale of the property.
The dispute centers on the William Bush House, a historic structure sitting on land owned by the Third Restated Theresa J. Reesor Revocable Living Trust. The school board, which is already purchasing 100 neighboring acres for a new school building, reached a deal to buy the additional 16-acre trust parcel for approximately $1.53 million.
However, Carl and Charito Corvin—one of whom is a beneficiary of the trust—launched a legal campaign to stop the sale. The Corvins made multiple offers to buy the land themselves, reaching as high as $1.91 million, specifically pledging to preserve the historic home for at least 30 years. The school board’s offer notably did not include a guarantee to save the house from demolition.
READ: Ice Meltdown Stays Anonymous: Illinois Court Protects YouTubers’ Identity In Hockey Video Case
The Corvins filed a lawsuit in September 2024 to stop the trust from selling to the school board. In response, the Board of Education fired back with counterclaims, accusing the couple of tortious interference and abuse of process.
The Board alleged that the Corvins filed the lawsuit not because of a legitimate legal right, but as a “club” to force the board to pay more money or to coerce them into preserving the house—results the board argues are not authorized by law.
The Corvins attempted to have these counterclaims thrown out using the Kentucky Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (KUPEPA). This relatively new state law is designed to quickly dismiss “SLAPP” suits—strategic lawsuits against public participation—that are intended to silence people for exercising their right to free speech or to petition the government.
In a 20-page opinion rendered on May 1, 2026, Chief Judge Kelly Thompson wrote that while the lower court was technically wrong to say the case was exempt from KUPEPA simply because it involved real estate, the school board had provided enough evidence for the case to proceed anyway.
READ :Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Defends Economic Path As National Debt Hits 100% Milestone
The court found that the Board of Education established a “prima facie” case, meaning they showed enough initial evidence to suggest the Corvins might have used the legal system improperly.
“The Board has alleged that Appellants are trying to force the Trust into selling the property for over $1.9 million, even though the Board has a contract to purchase the property for less,” the opinion stated.
The court also pointed to an interview in the record where the Corvins reportedly stated that preserving the William Bush House was their primary goal and that they wanted the school board to make concessions.
Because the appeals court upheld the denial of the motion to dismiss, the school board’s claims for punitive damages and tortious interference will move forward in Hardin Circuit Court.
The Board of Education has already agreed not to close on the property until the litigation is fully resolved. For now, the fate of the William Bush House remains in limbo as the parties prepare for the next round of local court proceedings.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
