§ 140.630 RSMo — Defendant may make claim for taxes paid — not to affect other defenses

1. Any defendant in an action under section 140.600 , in addition to any other defense he may have, may set up in his answer or other pleading, a claim for taxes and interest thereon paid by him or other person under whom he claims the land and may pray that the amount of such taxes and interest, when ascertained by the court or jury, if the judgment of the court be adverse to him, shall be decreed a lien on the land or interest therein.

2. Any such claim shall in no wise affect the merit of any other defense which may be pleaded, but shall be allowed as a matter of course arising out of the litigation.