WAS YOUR PROPERTY FORFEITED UNDER MINNESOTA LAW DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES?
You could be eligible for money from a $109 Million Class Action Settlement
A Minnesota Court authorized this website.
- A settlement (the “Settlement”) has been proposed in the class action lawsuit called Tyler v. Hennepin County (62-CV-19-6012) pending in the Ramsey County District Court, Second Judicial District of Minnesota. The lawsuit alleges that the State and all Minnesota Counties violated the constitutional rights of property owners by failing to pay them the value of their tax-forfeited properties in excess of the unpaid property taxes and related fees and costs. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this violated the Constitution but did not address defenses that might be asserted by the State or Counties. The Court has not decided who is right with respect to those defenses. Both sides have agreed to settle the lawsuits to provide money to property owners now and avoid expensive, uncertain and time-consuming litigation.
- You may be a Settlement Class Member entitled to money from the Settlement if you owned or held an interest in property that was forfeited in Minnesota for non-payment of taxes during the following time periods:
- Properties in Hennepin County forfeited between August 16, 2012 – December 31, 2023.
- Properties in St. Louis County forfeited between June 2, 2016 – December 31, 2023.
- Properties in all other Minnesota counties forfeited between June 23, 2016 – December 31, 2023.
- You could be eligible to receive up to 90% of the Surplus Value (plus interest) of the forfeited property. The Surplus Value is the value of the property at the time of forfeiture less taxes and associated charges owed, except for mineral rights owners (who receive a flat $300 payment). A property’s sale price, the assessor’s estimated market value, and/or an appraisal may determine the property’s value at the time of forfeiture. If multiple Approved Claims are made on an Eligible Property, the total Settlement Payment that property is eligible for will be allocated among the Claimants with the Settlement Payment capped at 90% of the Surplus Value plus interest from the date of forfeiture.
- The Court in charge of this case must decide whether to approve the Settlement1. If it does, and after any appeals are resolved, Settlement Payments will be distributed to those who submit proper and timely Claims.
Your legal rights may be affected by the Settlement. Read this website carefully.
YOUR OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT: | |
SUBMIT A | The only way to get a Settlement Payment is to submit a Claim Form. You may access the online Claim Form or download a paper Claim Form from the documents page. You will need a Class Member ID to file a Claim. If you did not receive Notice with a Class Member ID, please visit the registration page. You must submit a Claim Form by June 6, 2025. |
EXCLUDE YOURSELF | You may request to be excluded from the Settlement. You will not receive money from the Settlement if you do, but you will keep your right to sue Defendants over the claims alleged in the Litigation. You must exclude yourself by November 8, 2024. |
OBJECT | You may write to the Claims Administrator and object to or comment on the Settlement. You must object by November 8, 2024. |
FINAL APPROVAL | The Court has scheduled a Final Approval Hearing at 10:00 a.m. CT on December 16, 2024. You may attend if you would like, but it is not necessary. You may ask to speak in court about the fairness of the Settlement. See FAQ 19 for details. |
DO NOTHING | You will not receive money from the Settlement, you give up your right to bring your own lawsuit about the claims in this case, and you will be bound by all decisions of the Court. |
[1] Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Settlement Agreement entered into in this Litigation. This website is a summary only; more detailed information is in the Settlement Agreement.