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State's tax-forfeited property procedure prompts class action lawsuit

Ekaterina Bolovtsova via Pexels

In a class action lawsuit pending in Ramsey County, the state allegedly violated the constitutional rights of property owners subject to tax forfeiture by failing to pay them the property's value minus the outstanding taxes and applicable fees.

ST. PAUL — Owners or lienholders of Minnesota properties that were forfeited due to tax delinquency may be eligible for part of a $109 million class action settlement.

Those who owned or held interest in property that was forfeited between June 2016 and Dec 2023 in Minnesota for nonpayment of taxes may be entitled to money as a settlement class member.

If the property was in Hennepin County, the timeframe goes back to August 2012.

Settlement class members could receive up to 90% of the property’s value at the time of forfeiture, plus interest.

The class action lawsuit is pending in the Ramsey County Court, which alleges that the state and all its counties violated the constitutional rights of property owners by failing to pay them the value of their tax-forfeited properties after deducting unpaid property taxes and related fees.

Potential settlement class members must register and submit a claim by June 6, 2025. Those who wish to exclude themselves from the settlement or object to the settlement have a Nov. 8 deadline.

The final approval hearing in the case is set for Dec. 16.