Tax delinquency foreclosures not handled properly, lawsuits claim

DETROIT (AP) — Lawsuits say thousands of properties in Wayne and Oakland counties have been taken improperly in tax delinquency foreclosures.

The Detroit News reports the lawsuits filed this month say the foreclosures have reaped millions of dollars for government at the expense of property owners in Detroit and some of its suburbs.

The complaints say treasurers in both counties seized properties without providing the former owners with due process, equal protection and just compensation. In some instances, owners say they weren’t notified before their property was auctioned.

Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner and Wayne County Treasurer Raymond Wojtowicz say taxpayers are contacted multiple times over tax delinquencies and offered payment plans