Supreme Court Unanimously Rules That Home Equity Theft Is Unconstitutional

In Tyler v. Hennepin County, the justices agreed that state and local governments don't get to keep all proceeds of forced sales beyond what's needed to recover taxes due.

Geraldine Tyler, a 93‐year‐old woman on a very limited income, owned a condominium in the Minneapolis area. When she was unable to pay her $2,300 property tax bill, which eventually turned into nearly $12,700 with interest and fees, Hennepin County seized and sold her property to pay the bill. Yet rather than just keeping the $12,700 that was owed and r…