By: Diane benjamin
McLean isn’t the only County, they are one of 62 being sued for selling property seized for non-payment of property taxes.
The Edgar County Watchdogs reported the story: https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2025/06/62-counties-clerks-and-treasures-named-in-lawusit-filed-in-federal-court-alleged-property-tax-sale-violations
“The Fifth Amendment to the United State Constitution bars the State of Illinois, or any county therein, from seizing property from its owners for the purpose of collecting delinquent property taxes, while in the process forever depriving the property owner of the surplus equity in said property without compensation. See U.S. Const. amend. V. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that such action is an unconstitutional taking of the owners’ property. Yet, in Illinois this practice persists.”
See the lawsuit here: https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ammended-complaint-on-property-tax-sales.pdf
Read the story. Illinois is the only state with counties that didn’t comply with a Supreme Court ruling from 2 years ago.
Rebecca McNeil, Treasurer, and Kathy Michaels, County Clerk are named in the lawsuit. This could be expensive in numerous ways.
I read the case and I’m not quite following why the LLC’s who bought the delinquent tax property are suing and not the property owners.
I do recall the U.S. Supreme Court case being in the news. It was a woman I believe who had her home/property siezed for delinquent taxes, subsequently sold and she got nothing.
Just imagine how long this practice has been in place violating the 5th Amendment.
The LLCs are suing so that the matter of the uncompensated equity is settled as cleanly and quickly as possible, to prevent the property owners from attempting to regain that property later through some sort of claw-back suit. They’re definitely not heroes, since they already have the property and the counties would be on the hook for the difference, not them (probably).
If successful, this suit will get those people the value back that they’ve lost, but it won’t get their homes back, and will ultimately line the pockets of these property buyers. If it were the previous owners of the properties suing, it would be about getting those properties back. Instead, here’s what it says on page 15:
“Plaintiffs assert their constitutional rights against the County Defendants for
their sale of tax certificates to the Plaintiffs which are now all but worthless, as
they will either force Plaintiffs to pay the surplus equity of the auctioned property
to the property owner, to never receive a tax deed, or to violate the property owners’
Fifth Amendment rights. Plaintiffs assert their constitutional rights against the
State Defendants for their unconstitutional scheme which violates property owners’
constitutional rights, and forces Plaintiffs to either not obtain deeds to property for
which they hold tax certificates and lose their investments, pay the property owners
the surplus equity, or violate the property owners’ Fifth Amendment rights.
Plaintiffs are entitled to declaratory, injunctive, and equitable relief as a result of
this unconstitutional scheme.”
So, ultimately, it’s about these “investors” wanting to be able to keep the property they (likely) knowingly bought with these circumstances being known without them having to actually pay for those properties, forcing the counties to instead, while the homeowner gets that payment, and they get the property.
Thank you. Now it makes sense.
Crooked government is in the habit of passing laws challenging citizens to sue them if it ain’t right. To hell with the citizens. We’re in charge now. Where’s my kickback?
Insurance, risk and tech consulting “playbook” $$$ gets passed round heavy and incentived.
Curious bout the LLC rather than taxpayers suing too and all involved are parties including propertytax/ owner who truly was exploited.
Taxpayers are test cases & targets to be used/abused by authority and pay to play civil servants and leaders. Heavy in McLean Co. and Central IL
Wow. This has abuse has been happening for years – Finally something new actually doing something (calling/profiling and labeling taxpayers and citizens/homeowners “deadbeats” is just easier for all involved) and lucrative for all involved.
We pay for our own exploit still. But glad it’s being addressed!!! Much of the system, data and GIS and workflows lack integrity.
Whew
WOW – This is amazing! Thank you for sharing!!!
Great news! Thank you Edgar County Watchdogs.
Well. we lot our 1st 4th and 5th Amendment rights now…Thanks Central Illinois and state leaders!!!