Press Release: Final Settlement Approval for X

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Press Release
December 16, 2024
Minneapolis, Minnesota

“Lose your house for property taxes? You can claim a share of $109 million fund. Claims worth an average of over $20,000”

A Ramsey County District Court Judge has given final approval to the landmark $109 Million statewide settlement of the long-running Tyler v. Hennepin tax forfeiture class action lawsuit that went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thousands of former owners of properties in every Minnesota county that were taken by the government for delinquent property taxes are now able to submit their claims and receive payments from the settlement fund averaging more than $20,000 per forfeited property.
Allowed claimants can include not only the persons who owned the properties when they were taken for property taxes, but heirs of former owners who may have passed away, and also holders of liens on the properties.

This settlement culminates over five years of litigation, including a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision last year in favor of Geraldine Tyler, the now 96-year-old grandmother who lost her Minneapolis condo after falling behind on her property taxes.
Minnesotans who lost their property or liens for property taxes should now go to the court-approved settlement website (MNTaxForfeitureSettlement.com) or call (833) 522-3374 to get more information and submit their claim online or by mail.

The Lead Plaintiffs’ Class Counsel representing the class are Charles Watkins, Garrett Blanchfield, Vildan Teske, David Guin, and Roberta Yard. They filed the Tyler case in 2019 after several years of investigating a potential challenge to the constitutionality of Minnesota’s tax forfeiture statute. The statute, which allowed the government to keep the entire value of the forfeited property—not just the amount of the delinquent taxes and fees—had been on the books for over 90 years and had been the long-standing practice in Minnesota.

“The final approval of the settlement is great news for Minnesota property owners, their heirs, and anyone who held an interest in property that was lost through tax forfeiture. We can now get money back to former owners and their families so they can move forward with their lives. The average payment to class members is in the tens of thousands, with some into the six figures,” stated Vildan Teske, one of the lead lawyers representing the class member property owners.

Ms. Teske underscored the importance of submitting the claims as soon as possible. Anyone who wishes to find out if they’re eligible can contact the claims administrator. Claims can be submitted electronically on the settlement website or by requesting a paper claim form.
“Not only can former owners recover money, but going forward, property owners who lose their homes will now be able to make a claim for that equity under a new statute enacted as a result of this litigation,” noted Garrett Blanchfield, another of the attorneys appointed to represent the class.

For additional information, contact Vildan Teske (teske@teskelaw.com, 612-767-0521) or Garrett Blanchfield (g.blanchfield@rwblawfirm.com, 651-334-8168).

Vildan Teske and Marisa Katz Named to 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers List and Vildan Teske Selected to Minnesota Top 100 and Top 50 Women Lists

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We are pleased to announce that partners Marisa Katz and Vildan Teske have been selected again to the 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers list.  Additionally, for the fourth year in a row, Vildan Teske has been selected to the Minnesota Top 100 Super Lawyers  and the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers Lists,  a high distinction recognizing the top attorneys under the Super Lawyers rating system. These honors are notable given Minnesota has over 25,000 practicing attorneys.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in the state.

The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes:

  • Peer nominations
  • Independent research by Super Lawyers
  • Evaluations from a highly credentialed panel of attorneys

Attorneys on the top lists have been selected to the 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers list and ranked top of the list in the Super Lawyers selection process.

Teske Law is proud of its attorneys, and grateful to the legal community for this continued recognition. The 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers Magazine can be found here (https://digital.superlawyers.com/superlawyers/mnslrs21/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=Cover#pg1)

Federal Judge Gives Green Light to Teske Law’s Antitrust Lawsuit against Residential Real Estate Industry

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On October 02, 2020, U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood denied a motion to dismiss brought by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in a case accusing it of breaking antitrust laws by imposing sales commission rules that result in unfair charges to home sellers. The Court rejected NAR’s argument that a proposed class of former homeowners who say they are duped into paying too high of a commission when they sell their houses cannot prove injury. Judge Wood made clear the injury laid out by the home seller plaintiffs in their complaint was “assuredly of a type that the Sherman [Antitrust] Act was designed to prevent.”
The case is Moehrl v. National Association of Realtors, et al., and is being litigated in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Teske Law, PLLP is one of seven law firms representing Plaintiff and the proposed class of home sellers.
The complete article detailing the Judge’s order is featured in Law360 and can be found here:

Vildan Teske Featured in Article by Super Lawyers Magazine

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We are excited to announce that Minnesota Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thompson Reuters publication, has featured Vildan Teske in an article appearing in their annual publication. The article, entitled “Their Voice in the System”  focuses on Vildan’s class action practice,  cases she has handled for our country’s military members, and testifying before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee to improve access to justice for her clients. The article also discusses Vildan’s background as an immigrant and her motivation to fight for the underprivileged.

The article can be found here and here.

Vildan Teske Authors National Consumer Law Center’s Consumer Class Actions Manual, 10th Edition

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Vildan Teske is a contributing author of the National Consumer Law Center’s (NCLC) Consumer Class Actions (10th Ed.) 

The tenth edition of Consumer Class Actions published by the National Consumer Law Center is now in publication.  Vildan Teske is one of the national class action lawyers who served as a contributing author for this book. Herb Newberg, author of Newberg on Class Actions has praised Consumer Class Actions stating it “[c]omprehensively guides lawyers through the entire spectrum of class action litigation. … Invaluable, succinct resource for new and experienced class action practitioners.”

Vildan Teske Elected as Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

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Teske, Katz, Kitzer & Rochel, PLLP is excited to announce that Vildan Teske has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF).  This prestigious distinction is limited to only one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Fellows are nominated by their peers and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation.

Established in 1955, the American Bar Foundation Fellows “is a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities.” For more information about the ABF, click here. 

Doug Micko Presents on Updates to Whistleblower Law at Employment Law Institute

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On May 23, 2017, Teske Law partner Doug Micko presented a continuing legal education seminar to his peers at the Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute. The Employment Law Institute, billed as “the Nation’s best employment law conference,” is a program that attracted approximately 1,400 lawyers and employment law professionals. Micko, together with his co-panelist Joe Schmitt, presented a session entitled “Blowing the Amended Whistle – Minnesota Whistleblower Litigation.” The discussion focused on Minnesota’s Whistleblower Act, some recent amendments to the Act, and how broad the Act protects employees from retaliation.

Teske Law’s attorneys regularly practice whistleblower law. If you believe you have been the victim of retaliation for whistleblowing, contact us today.

Class Certification Granted in Class Action against Payday America

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On Wednesday, April 26, Hennepin County District Court Judge Daniel H. Mabley issued an order granting Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. Teske Law represents a class of Minnesota consumers who took out payday loans from Payday America, Inc. between October 2, 2013 and December 31, 2016. The named plaintiff and class representative, Randy Holte, filed this lawsuit in 2015 challenging several of Payday America’s practices: (1) charging fees on payday loans in excess of the maximum rates allowed for closed-end loans, (2) failing to properly disclose the annual percentage rate, and (3) engaging in prohibited debt collection practices.

The Court’s order granting class certification is available here.

Teske Law attorneys, Vildan Teske and Marisa Katz, have been appointed Class Counsel in this litigation. Marisa Katz, who briefed and argued the motion, noted, “Today’s certification order is a critical next step in our ongoing effort to stop the predatory business practice in which this defendant lends money to Minnesota’s most cash-strapped and vulnerable consumers.”

Teske Law looks forward to its continued role in advocating for consumer lender compliance under the law and marketplace fairness.

If you have questions about the Holte v. Payday America, Inc. litigation, or believe that your consumer rights have been violated, contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Vildan Teske Named to Minnesota Federal Judicial Selection Committee

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Congratulations to Teske Law partner, Vildan Teske, who was named by Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Al Franken to serve on their judicial selection committee. The Hon. Ann Montgomery and Hon. Donovan Frank, both judges on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, recently took senior status, leaving two vacancies that will need to be filled.

In announcing the committee, Senator Klobuchar said “[t]his group of distinguished Minnesota leaders will help us identify jurists who will continue Minnesota’s long tradition of federal judges with broad experience and an unwavering commitment to the fair and just application of the law.”

Senator Franken said “I’m looking forward to reviewing the Committee’s work and recommending nominees to the President who will serve the people of our state with honor and distinction.”

Teske remarked, “I’m honored to serve on this prestigious committee. My years advocating on behalf of consumers, working with the Federal Bar Association, and serving on the Board of the Infinity Project have confirmed how important it is to have a good and strong judiciary.”

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Vildan Teske Quoted in Star Tribune Article regarding Forced Arbitration

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On Sunday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune featured an article about the current state of forced arbitration of consumer disputes: “Debate over forced arbitration finds its second wind, with help from events like Wells Fargo scandal.” Teske Katz Kitzer & Rochel partner Vildan Teske is quoted in the article, noting that there have been recent developments in the fight against forced arbitration in consumer disputes, but that the latest changes only provide a “patchwork of protection.”

Teske has been a strong and vocal advocate for consumers, particularly in the fight to curtail forced arbitration and to reinforce consumers’ rights to use the judicial system when they have been harmed. Teske has presented on the issue many times, including along with U.S. Senator Al Franken and other notable consumer rights experts. Teske has also testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee.

For more information on consumer financial issues, consumer class actions, or forced arbitration, contact our firm or Vildan Teske directly.