Tyler v. Hennepin County

Hennepin County, Minnestota seized a condominium owned by Geraldine Tyler because of unpaid $15,000 property taxes. The County then sold the property for $40,000, and it kept that entire amount. In this case in the U.S. Supreme Court, Ms. Tyler argues that the County, by keeping the money exceeding the amount of the tax debt, violated the Takings Clause.

Public Citizen submitted an amicus brief in support of Ms. Tyler. The brief argues that the County’s seizure was a taking of the condominium for the public purpose of recouping taxes, and that the County violated the just compensation requirement of the Takings Clause by failing to provide just compensation. The brief also explains that permitting the government to take property to collect a tax debt without providing just compensation creates skewed incentives that disproportionately harm vulnerable people.