Frequently Asked Questions

We make our best effort to contact all requestors, but unfortunately, individuals whose properties do not meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the lawsuit may not receive direct notification. We encourage potential claimants to review the specific eligibility requirements detailed on our website or to contact our office for a personalized assessment.

Upon receiving your inquiry, our team will review it and we are committed to initiating contact promptly. We understand the importance of this issue and strive to provide a timely response to inquiries.

Currently, only properties located within the states identified on our eligibility map are considered for these potential lawsuits. Properties situated in states not listed are not eligible at this time. We recommend monitoring our website for any updates regarding eligibility criteria and the inclusion of additional states.

In instances where a property has been foreclosed upon by a banking institution, it is unlikely that we can assist in recovering surplus equity under the parameters of this specific lawsuit.

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.

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.

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.