DETROIT – As a result of a recent decision made by the Michigan Supreme Court -- those affected may be entitled to a payday.
Michigan’s Supreme Court is now saying their 2020 decision which prevents the government from keeping money they make from selling foreclosed homes can now be applied retroactively. This now means millions of dollars could go back into the pockets of the people who lost their homes because of unpaid taxes. Attorney Christina Martin once fought on behalf of several residents in the 2020 case.
Read: Michigan’s top court gives big victory to people trying to recoup cash from foreclosures
“The constitution says if the government takes your property, it has to pay you for it and the government took more than what was owed, so they have to return that excess money that they took from these people. The government gets to collect taxes, penalties, interest fees, costs. It doesn’t get to keep everything left after that,” said Attorney Martin.
But what can you do to jumpstart the process if you lost your home? Christina said that part is simple.
“Reach out to a local Michigan Attorney, because they can help you navigate the system. The law that’s on the books right now is very complicated. I think it raised additional constitutional issues that the legislature should really just fix now,” Attorney Martin explained.