(StraightShooterNews.com) – Shedding light on the dangers of unchecked tax practices, a Nebraska man got his house back after scoring a massive win against the system.
Kevin Fair, who lost his home over a mere $588 tax debt, is set to reclaim his property after a hard-fought legal battle.
This case exposes how easily American families can fall victim to predatory tax policies threatening their constitutional rights.
In 2018, Fair’s life was turned upside down when Scotts Bluff County sold the lien on his home to a private investor over an unpaid $588 tax bill.
This shocking abuse of power, which Nebraska law allowed at the time, spiraled into a nightmare for Fair and his wife.
The couple had lived in their Scottsbluff home for nearly 30 years, which was a wedding gift from Fair’s mother.
The investor exploited the system by demanding a staggering $5,268 in taxes, interest and fees from the Fairs.
Due to medical issues, the couple was unable to meet this baffling demand and lost the title to their home in 2018.
Fair’s words capture the injustice: “They stand to make the money, and I won’t have anything after living here for 25 years.”
The Pacific Legal Foundation stepped in to represent Fair, arguing that seizing home equity exceeding the debt amount violated constitutional protections.
Initially, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled against Fair in 2022, showcasing the uphill battle he faced.
However, in a triumph for property rights, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened to order the Nebraska court to reconsider.
This led to a ruling in Fair’s favor in August 2023, affirming that home equity is indeed constitutionally protected.
Pacific Legal Foundation senior attorney Christina Martin emphasized the significance of this victory, stating it “is protecting him from, in all likelihood, homelessness.”
The case prompted Nebraska to change its law in 2023 to protect homeowners from losing equity over unpaid property taxes.
While Fair’s legal victory is a cause for celebration, it is bittersweet. Fair himself recently suffered a stroke and his wife died in 2019, unable to see their home restored.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $10,000 as a silver lining to assist Fair with home modifications and outstanding tax bills.
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