Saturday, May 05, 2012

NJ Homeowner's State Court Class Action Civil Suit Targeting Alleged Tax Lien Foreclosure Sale Bid Rigging Racket Moves To Federal Court

In Lebanon Township, New Jersey, the Hunterdon County Democrat reports:
  • Defendants in a class-action suit initiated by a Lebanon Township homeowner have until June 1 to file their answers to the complaint. Jeanne Boyer, who has been fighting to save her own home from foreclosure, filed the suit on behalf of herself and potentially thousands of other homeowners in similar situations.

  • The suit was filed in Hunterdon County Superior Court on March 13 and removed to federal court on March 28.

  • Boyer alleges that she is one of many victims of a bid-rigging scheme that allowed tax lien investors to charge the highest amount of interest allowed by law. Since the suit was filed, two more people and a company have pleaded guilty in federal court. Several pleaded guilty in federal court to Sherman Act violations by conspiring to eliminate any competition at tax sales.
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  • Boyer was about to lose her home on Musconetcong River Road unless she came up with a total of $113,500 by March 15. Of that amount, more than $64,000 is accumulated interest. However, Superior Court Judge Yolanda Ciccone granted a temporary restraining order in light of a class action suit initiated by Boyer through attorney Michael Perle. A decision on a motion to extend the injunction until the class action suit is resolved is still pending.