Did you lose your home or business to tax foreclosure?
If your residential or commercial property was subject to a tax foreclosure by the local government or a tax-lien company in 2022 or 2023 and your equity was taken, we may be able to help you recover it.
Home and commercial property owners have been victims of equity theft in numerous states.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional for local governments and tax-lien investors to keep surplus equity in a property beyond that necessary to cover back taxes, interest, and associated fees.
You may be entitled to the return of your equity depending on the law and what time your property was subject to tax foreclosure. A lawsuit is being assembled to determine whether former property owners are entitled to compensation.
If your residential or commercial property was subject to a tax foreclosure by the local government or a tax-lien company in 2022 or 2023 and your equity was taken, contact us through the form to see if you are eligible for the lawsuit, and a member of our firm will reach out to you. Note: If you are currently subject to a tax lien you cannot pay, you may also be eligible for protection through a court order.
The firm of Hughes & Suhr LLC is ready to represent former property owners in court to seek compensation for the surplus equity that was taken from them. Clients do not pay anything until and unless the case is won - the firm will cover all the costs of litigating up until victory.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that a Minnesota county government violated the rights of one of its citizens by keeping all of her home equity after a tax foreclosure. She had owed about $15,000 in unpaid taxes on her condo. The government executed a tax foreclosure, and the condo sold for $40,000. But rather than returning the $25,000 balance, the government kept the entire $40,000 for itself. The Supreme Court said that was an unconstitutional taking of her property by the government.
What is the legal basis for this lawsuit?
What kind of lawsuit will this be?
This is a federal civil rights lawsuit – county governments across Illinois violated people’s constitutional right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution against unlawful takings of property. We will ask the Court to treat this case as a class action, which means that it will cover everyone in Illinois whose equity was stolen by their county government in the past several years.
Who is eligible to participate in this lawsuit?
The case will primarily cover anyone who had their equity stolen by the government or a tax-lien company through a tax foreclosure in the last two years, 2022 or 2023 (the foreclosure itself happened in those years; the tax debt was from several years earlier). However, if you are currently subject to a tax lien you cannot pay, you may also be eligible for protection through a court order. The case will cover both residential and commercial properties that have or could lose their equity. By sharing some simple information with the lawyers, we can determine your exact eligibility based on your individual facts and circumstances. All personal financial information will be held confidential during the eligibility determination.
No. The lawyers are doing this on a contingency-fee basis. That means they only get paid if and when they win, either through outright victory or settlement, in which case they will receive a portion of the recovery. Clients do not pay any money up front for the lawyers’ time or expenses. The court is also likely to review any attorney fee award at the end of the case.
Will I have to pay for the lawyers up front?
Who are the lawyers on the case?
Patrick Hughes
Daniel Suhr
Veteran attorneys Patrick Hughes and Daniel Suhr are standing by, ready to represent homeowners who qualify to seek a refund of equity they lost to tax foreclosure.
Hughes & Suhr LLC is a registered law firm. Its main office is located at 747 N. LaSalle St., Suite 210, Chicago IL 60654.
Attorney Hughes is licensed in Illinois and Attorney Suhr is licensed in Wisconsin. They maintain bar admission in various courts and associate with local counsel as necessary to ensure compliance with all rules of practice.
Engagement letters extended to eligible clients will set forth the exact terms of the firm's responsibility to pay for the costs and expenses associated with litigation and the client's obligations to share any award with the firm in the event of settlement or a judgment.
Outcomes in past cases provided to prospective clients are for biographical detail only and do not suggest or guarantee results in future cases.