Supreme Court foreclosure decision could affect Worcester case, attorneys say (MassLive)

A May 25 MassLive article covered the potential effect of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, in a Minnesota case, on a current Massachusetts foreclosure case handled by the Pioneer Public Interest Law Center; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; and Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS). Todd Kaplan, Senior Attorney at GBLS, is quoted in the article, which is excerpted below.

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When Carmen Rodriguez fell behind on her real estate taxes, she wasn’t concerned, given her $2,600 bill was pennies compared to her house, valued at up to $300,000, according to her lawyers.

But when the City of Worcester sold its right to foreclose on her house to a tax title buying group, the new owner brought an eviction action against her and her son. This, despite the fact that Rodriguez continued making payments to the city, according to a press release from her attorney group, Greater Boston Legal Services.

In Massachusetts law, a foreclosure negates any equity the foreclosed party had in a property.

But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling released Thursday regarding a similar Minnesota case could allow for Rodriguez to recoup the profits on the sale of her house, the legal group said.

Read more at MassLive. This story was also covered by WGBH and the Eagle Tribune.