THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2018-494 IN THE 2018 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2020. TO SEE THE AMENDED VERSION, SEE THE VERSION LABELED PENDING.

If, in any action brought for the possession of land sold for taxes, the title of the purchaser at the tax sale shall be defeated on account of any defect in the proceedings under which the sale is had, or on account of any defect in or insufficiency of the process by which the owner of the land was brought before the probate court, as is provided, or in the service of the process, or by reason of the failure of the judge of probate on account of any negligence or refusal on his or her part to produce when called upon, sufficient evidence of the proper issuance and service of the notice or process, or by reason of any other defect or insufficiency in any of the proceedings for the condemnation and sale of the property, or of the certificate or deed to the purchaser or any two or more of the causes, the officer or officers on account of whose omission or error the defect or insufficiency or defects or insufficiencies shall have arisen, together with the sureties on the official bond, shall be liable to the purchaser whose title shall be thus defeated and to his or her assignees for the full sum of the purchase money paid by him or her at the tax sale for the property, the cost of the action in which the title failed, which the purchaser shall have incurred in attempting to maintain title under the tax sale, together with the interest upon each of these amounts, at the rate of 12 percent per annum, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 40-10-122(a); provided that except as to the state, actions under this section shall be commenced within five years from the sale.