Federal judge denies city’s claim to dismiss tax title taking lawsuit

GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Last week a federal judge denied the city of Greenfield’s request to dismiss the lawsuit demanding $270,000 in equity lost to the city, be repaid to Stephen Woodbridge.

Woodbridge inherited land which was taken after he failed to pay $6,000 in taxes and claims the city made $270,000 off the foreclosure of his property, beyond the taxes owed. Woodbridge’s case relies on the US Supreme Court case Tyler v. Hennepin wherein the Supreme Court ruled that municipal and county governments in Minnesota could only take what was owed in taxes, not the remaining equity after foreclosure.