Washington County Tax Foreclosure Class Action Settlement
Washington County Tax Foreclosure Class Action Settlement
Washington County, Oregon agreed to settle claims that it took properties through tax foreclosure and kept the surplus equity instead of returning it to former owners. People who held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property foreclosed on in Washington County for non-payment of real property taxes between October 12, 2017 and December 31, 2025, and their heirs and successors, can file a claim by November 30, 2026. Payments are based on the Surplus Proceeds for each eligible property. The Court granted final approval of the settlement on September 17, 2026.
Settlement fund
Not disclosed
Common fund, amount not published
Top payout
Varies by property
Share of Surplus Proceeds, less fees
Claim deadline
Nov 30, 2026
63 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Nov 30, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property that was foreclosed on in Washington County, Oregon for non-payment of real property taxes between October 12, 2017 and December 31, 2025.
- Or you are the heir and successor to a person or entity who held that ownership interest or lien.
- The property appears on the List of Eligible Properties posted on the Documents page of WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com. If you received a notice with a Class Member ID, you are likely a Class Member.
- Excluded: Anyone who submitted a valid request to be excluded by the September 14, 2026 opt-out deadline.
- Excluded: Persons excluded under the Settlement Agreement. See the Long Form Notice and Settlement Agreement at WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com for the full list of exclusions.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator at (833) 930-1147, write to Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391, or visit WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com.
What happened
Plaintiff Almorn Brackett filed this proposed class action against Washington County, Oregon in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in March 2026, alleging that the County took tax-foreclosed properties and either sold them or kept them without returning the Surplus Equity or Surplus Proceeds to the owners. Surplus Proceeds are the difference between the property's sale price (or real market value, if the county kept the property) and the unpaid taxes, fees, and costs owed. The case is related to other Oregon tax foreclosure cases before the same Court, including Lynch v. Multnomah County and Gabbert v. Josephine County, which followed the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, 598 U.S. 631.
Washington County denies wrongdoing and does not admit liability. The settlement website states that the County agreed to resolve the claims in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County. The Court preliminarily approved the settlement on June 1, 2026 and, after the Final Approval Hearing on September 17, 2026, granted final approval, finding the settlement fair, reasonable, and adequate. The class covers property foreclosed on in Washington County between October 12, 2017 and December 31, 2025.
How to file a claim
-
1. Confirm you are eligible
You qualify if you held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property foreclosed on in Washington County for non-payment of property taxes between October 12, 2017 and December 31, 2025, or if you are the heir and successor to someone who did. Check the List of Eligible Properties on the Documents page of WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com.
-
2. Understand your payment
Settlement Payments are based on the Surplus Proceeds for each eligible property, meaning the difference between the property's sale price (or real market value, if the county kept the property) and the unpaid taxes, fees, and costs owed. The Court awarded Class Counsel attorneys' fees of 25% of the common fund, $1,837.85 in litigation expenses, and a $10,000 service award to the Class Representative, which come out of the fund. The exact method for calculating each payment, including any interest, is set out in the Settlement Agreement on the Documents page of WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com. Payment amounts vary by property and are not guaranteed.
-
3. File online or by mail
Submit the Claim Form online at the official claim portal by November 30, 2026, or mail a paper Claim Form postmarked by November 30, 2026 to Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391. The online form asks for the Class Member ID printed on your notice. If you do not have a Class Member ID, contact the Administrator at (833) 930-1147 before the deadline. The Claim Form, Long Form Notice, Settlement Agreement, and List of Eligible Properties are posted at WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com.
-
4. Receive your payment
The Court held the Final Approval Hearing on September 17, 2026. Settlement Payments are sent to Class Members with valid claims after the settlement becomes final and claims are processed. If anyone appeals, payment may be delayed, and an appeal can take a year or more. Check the settlement website for distribution updates.
Key dates
- Sep 14, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Passed
- Nov 30, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Sep 17, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (2:30 p.m. PT) Passed
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing was held on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. PT before the Honorable Karin J. Immergut in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, and the Court granted final approval that day. The opt-out and objection deadline was September 14, 2026 and has passed. The claim deadline remains November 30, 2026. Check WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com for distribution updates.
Where the money is going
Washington County's settlement pays eligible Class Members from a common fund tied to the Surplus Proceeds on eligible Washington County properties. The total fund amount is not stated on the settlement website pages we could access. Attorneys' fees, litigation expenses, and the service award approved by the Court are paid from the fund before Settlement Payments are made.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing. The Court granted final approval and entered its fee, expense, and service award order on September 17, 2026, but the judgment is not final until any appeal period ends. Actual payments depend on the Surplus Proceeds for each property and the terms of the Settlement Agreement.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Payments are based on the Surplus Proceeds for your eligible Washington County property, meaning the difference between the property's sale price (or real market value, if the county kept the property) and the unpaid taxes, fees, and costs owed, as calculated under the Settlement Agreement. Attorneys' fees of 25% of the common fund, $1,837.85 in litigation expenses, and a $10,000 service award approved by the Court are deducted before payment. The amount you receive is not guaranteed and depends on your property and the terms of the settlement.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
The online Claim Form asks for the Class Member ID printed on the notice mailed to you, along with contact information, details about the eligible property, and a payment selection. Heirs and successors may be asked to show their connection to the former owner or lienholder. Check the Claim Form and Long Form Notice at WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com for exactly what is required.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Yes, you may still be a Class Member. If you or someone you are the heir of held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, property foreclosed on in Washington County for unpaid property taxes during the class period, check the List of Eligible Properties at WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com. Because the online form requires a Class Member ID, call Kroll Settlement Administration at (833) 930-1147 or use the Contact Us form on WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com to request one before the November 30, 2026 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
Yes. The opt-out deadline was September 14, 2026. If you did not exclude yourself, you are bound by the settlement and give up the right to sue Washington County separately over the retention of Surplus Proceeds from tax foreclosures covered by this settlement, whether or not you file a claim. The full release language is in the Settlement Agreement on the Documents page of WashingtonForeclosureSettlement.com.
When will payments be sent out?
The Final Approval Hearing was held on September 17, 2026. Settlement Payments are issued to Class Members with valid claims after the settlement becomes final and the claims period closes and claims are processed. If there is an appeal, payments may be delayed, and an appeal can take a year or more. Monitor the settlement website for updates.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Washington County, Oregon, Kroll Settlement Administration LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel David F. Sugerman and Nadia H. Dahab of Sugerman Dahab, Gregory Paul Hansel and Elizabeth F. Quinby of Preti Flaherty, and Nathan J. Fink of Fink Bressack. The case is Almorn Brackett v. Washington County, Case No. 3:26-cv-00554-IM, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon before the Honorable Karin J. Immergut. Class representatives are Almorn Brackett. Washington County denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.