§ 140.300 RSMo — Collector, written guaranty — action on — damages

1. The county collector, at the time of the sale and after the purchaser has made payment of the amount of his bid shall endorse upon and annex to the certificate to be given to the purchaser his written guaranty, signed by him, warranting that the taxes which are named in the certificate are due upon the tract, lot, piece or parcel of land.

2. And if it at any time appears that the county collector before the time of making the guaranty, received, either in person or by deputy, the taxes assessed against the tract, lot, piece or parcel of land, the holder of the certificate is entitled to his action upon the written guaranty, forthwith, upon the facts becoming known that the lands were by reason thereof improperly sold, and without waiting the accrual of any special damage to the holder. The measure of damages to which the holder of the certificate is entitled is the amount paid by the holder, as taxes, interest, penalty and charges, with lawful interest thereon, plus an additional penalty of ten percent of the sums; or the holder is entitled to his action on the official bond of the collector, against him and his sureties, as for dereliction in duty, in which action the measure of damages is the same as above mentioned.