The Latest Breaking News from Geraldine Tyler

A local government gave ownership of Kevin Fair's Nebraska house—and all of its value—to a private investor, in a practice known as home equity theft.

Home equity theft happens when governments auction off seized houses and keep the profits—even once the tax bill is paid.

The Tyler home equity theft case is just the tip of a much larger iceberg of property rights issues where stronger judicial protection can protect the interests of the poor and minorities, as well as promote the federalist values of localism and diversity.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "home equity theft" violates the Constitution.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled unanimously in favor of a 94-year-old woman who argued that she was entitled to some of the profits from the sale of a condominium for which she owed taxes and penalties — a decision likely to result in changes to state's property forfeiture…

‘The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but no more,’ wrote Chief Justice John Roberts

The Supreme Court ruled that home equity theft qualifies as a taking, and that state law is not the sole source for the definition of property rights. The ruling is imprecise on some points, but still sets an important and valuable precedent.

"The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but no more," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.

A unanimous Supreme Court has given a 94-year-old Minneapolis woman a new chance to recoup some money after the county kept the entire $40,000 when it sold her condominium over a small unpaid tax bill