Love the court system – NOT. Kind of long. No good tips or pointers so don’t read if you don’t want to. May be a waste of time to read but you might get amusement out of it. You might even relate to it. I think Robert J could relate to this.

This is a first for me. Just thought I would rant a little bit. I bought a piece of dirt, property, in a small town on August 2018 at a tax sale. No big deal. I have most likely purchased 175 to 200 properties over time. Sold some, keep some.

Anyway, unbeknownst to me this particular property was owned by a former lawyer. He had held a Missouri state attorney license up until he was disbarred for shady dealings.

He claims he didn’t even know about the tax sale until I showed up on his doorstep wanting money. Forget about the green card. You know, the one they have to sign on the certified letter telling them about the tax sale. (He did sign the green card)

So, he decided to contest the sale. He said the city and the county didn’t do things correctly. Claimed I didn’t do things correctly. Claimed everybody was wrong except him.

So here we go, trudging off to circuit court. Had our first hearing. He representing himself Pro Se, me representing myself Pro se. Judge decides he will hear the case and sets a date a little over a month out. We get to court and Plaintiff request additional time to prepare. Granted and slams the gavel down. Well, that was a waste of my time and travel. Keep in mind this property is about 250 miles from where I live. So, it is a 500-mile round trip for me. He, the plaintiff lives about 4 blocks from the court house.

Next court date we are standing around waiting for the judge and judge calls and says he can’t make the court appearance. OK we will just extend it another month or so.

Go to the next court date and judge has recused himself so court has to find a new judge. They get a new Judge and we have a hearing. Judge say’s OK we can do this. Then judge realizes the Plaintiff was a lawyer in the small town and the judge has worked with him in the past so he has to – or at least decides to - recuse himself also.

Court sends notice to Missouri supreme court people asking for them to assign a new judge to the case. They get one from a town about 40 miles away. So now the judge has to travel. Good deal I think to myself. Maybe we will get something done. No, not the case.

Put off, put off, Put off. Finally judge tells plaintiff that next month we are going to have a trial come h--- or high water. Plaintiff comes in and request another continuance because a couple of his witness live in South Dakota and they haven’t had time to prepare for the trial. Oh yes he says. I notified them, but couldn’t get in touch with until TWO days before hearing. Continuance again.

You’re starting to get the idea. Anyway, we final have a REAL court hearing. Witness called to the witness stand, swearing them in or at them. And the whole thing.

Judge rules in my favor. He, plaintiff, request another hearing. Judge says just put it in writing and give it to the court. Judge looks it over and reaffirms his decision.

Plaintiff puffs out his chest and says, I am going to take this to the Southern District Appellant court. Wow, that is only forty miles from where I live and about 230 miles from the Plaintiff’s home. I didn’t know how an appellant court worked. It seems most everything is done by paperwork and electronically. You don't have to go to the court in person.

Now he gets to play with the Appellant court. First of all, he doesn’t pay the court fee as required by the court system. That’s ok, he can pay it later. Then he files for an extension of time. Dismissed by the court, but then on their own, they give him another two months. He files paperwork but gets it wrong so the court gives him additional time to get it correct.

FINALLY, just tonight I get notice through our court system that the appellant court says if he doesn’t pay the $70 that he should have paid a while back they are going to (might) dismiss the case. He has to pay $70 whole dollars. Hel- I spill that much just walking across the street.

Anyway, it’s been about 2 years 9 months and maybe, just maybe on the 6th of August something might get done.

Rant over.

I am from the country and I hear this saying quite often around the local restaurants revolving coffee/ gossip table.

Bonanza NC I will post when it happens but it might be a month or two

MC PA I think he has so far but when this is over and I attach his other 60 acres he will change his tune

Rick IN Rick I just used the word “Dirt”. It really is a lot in a town that has a somewhat nicer house on it. Somewhat “nicer” is relative to where you live. Compared to “Cimbs” properties mine is a worn out waiting to have the match put to it property. It would sell for about 45K

RB. MI Yes. And I don’t have much of a mind anymore. It left me years ago

Plenty MO I think I know you. Didn’t you take the tax sale class I offered a while back. You used a different name back then.

Jim OH Ain’t that the truth

P.B. MI I LIKE that

Thank you for taking the time to share that.

That is a really messed up system.

What a nightmare! I would like to hear the outcome of this drama! I think tax sales here the guy would have a year to pay his back taxes plus a bit of interest and get it back..and you can touch (improve) it until then...that's detered me from even trying to acquire property that way.

I'll get a notice of an update if you update on this thread.

Going on almost three years he's gotten to live there for free. His lawyer isn't costing him anything and he obviously doesn't have a job because he has plenty of time to spend in court.

Awesome tale of woe. I'm guessing this so called Lawyer has nothing to do and enjoys litigation no matter how small. My Mom would have said 'he's impressed with his own importance'. Hope this all works out for you someday.

Just got back from going to the big smoke and talking to the Appellant court. He has until Aug 6 before anything can be done.

6X6 being brothers I have wondered why you have not got into the tax sale business. There’s gold in them thar dumps.

Lucy You are mostly right. Delinquent tax payers have a year to redeem (in Missouri – others states different time frame) unless it is a sale subsequent to the third offering. This was a fourth year offering so no redemption period and immediate collector deed to me. You are better not to touch the property before the year redemption is past but you could go in and build the delinquent tax payer a new house if you wanted.

Plenty . Yes I do remember you. If I ever get up that way lets do lunch. I will call if you haven’t changed your number

Organ Woodsmoke you are right (again) He has more time than money or sense. See reply to Ken NY. Cannot evict him as he has it tied up in court over ownership of property. He told the court if he wins the ownership then he wouldn’t owe any rent money. I am going to attempt another SCC next week. We will see what happens.

Sorta Blond more awesome when you are on the out side looking into the fight (grins)

#22 thanks for the pick me up speech. Can’t wait for our next monthly meeting that I can attend. Becky remembers you as the “green shorts guy”. You were wearing green shorts the first time we meet.

Ken NY I have backed charged him in SCC. Judge gave me a judgment of $5000 but plaintiff got court to combine the two cases’ together. Ownership of land and rent. Besides the guy is almost judgment proof. 100 % veteran disability. Mental case. Doesn’t work. Remember he is an inherited tenant. I am going to file another SCC case against him this coming week for another 5K. Then later do another one. Here filing SCC cases is fairly cheap and easy.

Rick IN. my apologies. I think I failed to answer your question.

Keep it going Mike! Wow!

I haven't bothered with tax sales in my community. The timing always stinks, and since I can no longer drive any distance, no point in trying any of the neighboring communities.

what's the difference between a snake in the middle of the road and an attorney in the middle of the road?

There are skid marks in front of the snake.

Shakesphere had it right. No offense to any legal eagles out there.

Ahhhh,,the "goof Ole Boys Club" in action.

Go Mike!

I think attys do more to hurt people than to help.

The only atty I like is the one defending me against the attacking attys.