§ 215. Claims against state. Where an action has been commenced and final judgment in favor of the people entered therein by reason of the escheat of real property to the people and the said property has been sold pursuant to section two hundred four, any party or parties thereto, or their successors in interest, who, but for the rendering of such final judgment would have been entitled to such real property, or an interest therein, shall have a claim against the state for the value of such real property or interest therein at the time of the entry of such judgment, but no such claim shall exist in favor of such party or parties or their successors in interest unless a petition therefor shall have been filed as hereinafter provided within fifteen years from the date of entry of such final judgment unless such party or parties to such ejectment action shall have been, at the time of the commencement of such action or entry of final judgment, incompetent to conduct his or her affairs by reason of mental illness or mental retardation or have been under the age of eighteen years, or be imprisoned in execution upon conviction of a criminal offense, in which event the period of such disability shall not be deemed to be a part of the time limited within which such petition may be filed. Such party or parties, or their successors in interest shall petition the commissioner of general services for payment of the sum or a part thereof received by the state, upon the sale made pursuant to section two hundred four, and the said commissioner if satisfied that the claim is just and is made by a party who, except for the entry of final judgment in an action authorized by section two hundred one would have been entitled to the real property or an interest therein affected by said action, may certify such facts to the court of claims, whereupon that court is empowered and authorized to determine the amount of such claim or claims and award judgment therefor, the total of which in no event shall exceed the amount received by the people upon the sale of said real property pursuant to section two hundred four.