The Latest Breaking News from Geraldine Tyler

Supreme Court Ruling: justices bar surplus seizures on tax-foreclosed homes; Minnesota laws revised

In a landmark case, 94-year-old Geraldine Tyler lost her Minneapolis condo over unpaid property taxes. Hennepin County sold the property for $40,000 but refused to return the surplus funds to Tyler. Challenging this, she argued before the Supreme Court that retaining surplus violated the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause. The Court’s…

The Times of India · Sep 25

Illinois Will Finally Stop Stripping People of Their Home Equity—3 Years After the Supreme Court Outlawed It

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill that promises property owners will receive the surplus proceeds when the government seizes their home to satisfy a tax debt.

Reason · Jul 16

The Government Seized Their $195,000 Home Over a $2,242 Debt. What Does the Supreme Court Say They're Owed?

The Pung family of Isabella County, Michigan, maintained they were entitled to fair market value. The high court disagreed, but with a twist.

Reason · Jun 23

He Lost the Title to His Home Over a Small Property Tax Debt. Years Later, He's Finally Getting It Back.

A local government gave ownership of Kevin Fair's Nebraska house—and all of its value—to a private investor, in a practice known as home equity theft.

Reason · Jan 3, 2025

Local Governments Are Seizing and Selling Homes Over Small Tax Debts

Home equity theft happens when governments auction off seized houses and keep the profits—even once the tax bill is paid.

Reason · Oct 21, 2024

Baltimore's Tax Sales Are Robbing People of Their Equity

The Edmondson Community Organization accrued a modest property tax debt. The group paid dearly for that.

Reason · Aug 19, 2024

Reason Is a Finalist for 14 Southern California Journalism Awards

Nominated stories include journalism on messy nutrition research, pickleball, government theft, homelessness, and more.

Reason · May 9, 2024

This 70-Year-Old Woman Might Lose Her $377,000 Home Over a Small Tax Debt

The Supreme Court supposedly put an end to “home equity theft” last year. But some state and local governments have found a loophole.

Reason · Feb 13, 2024

How Four Recent Supreme Court Rulings Impact Your Money

Some U.S. Supreme Court decisions could affect your finances. Here’s what you need to know.

Kiplinger · Jul 6, 2023

My New Brennan Center Article on Tyler v. Hennepin County and the Cross-Ideological Case for Stronger Judicial Protection for Constitutional Property Rights

The Tyler home equity theft case is just the tip of a much larger iceberg of property rights issues where stronger judicial protection can protect the interests of the poor and minorities, as well as promote the federalist values of localism and diversity.

Reason · May 30, 2023