Oregon tax foreclosure surplus settlement
Gabbert et al. v. Josephine County, et al. and Baker v. Baker County
Also known as Oregon tax foreclosure settlement; Jackson County tax foreclosure; Marion County tax foreclosure; Gabbert v. Josephine County; Lynch v. Baker; 1:23-cv-01434
The lawsuits claimed four Oregon counties kept the surplus equity in tax-foreclosed properties.
- You could get
- A share of the fund $4,919,409.99 fund, split among everyone who files.
Source
“based on the Class Member’s ... share of the Settlement Fund, after deducting attorneys’ fees, expenses, and service awards to class representatives.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website FAQ (Jackson County).
- You need
- No receipt needed Needs the code from your notice Your Class Member ID, to start the online claim form Some paperwork: describes the claim form only
Source
“LOGIN ... Contact Information ... Eligible Property ... Payment Selection ... Release and Affirmation ... Class Member ID”
From the administrator site: Official online claim form (Kroll, linked from Submit Claim).
- Who can file
- Owners, lienholders of tax-foreclosed Oregon property, 2017-24
Source
“If you held, or are the heir and successor to a person or entity who held, an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property that was foreclosed on for the non-payment of real property taxes in Columbia County, Jackson County, or Marion County, between October 23, 2017 and June 7, 2024, or in Baker County between September 7, 2018 and June 7, 2024, you may be entitled to a payment from a class action settlement.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website home page (Jackson County).
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S.
Source
“All persons and entities ... and their heirs, successors, and assignees as defined under ‘Potential Claimants’ ... who held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property that Defendants obtained through a foreclosure action to satisfy unpaid real estate taxes or other County or local government taxes, fees, or penalties and whose redemption period expired during the Class Period, as identified on the Claims’ Administrator’s website ... and which the Counties (1) sold for an amount exceeding the unpaid taxes, fees, and other costs associated with that property; or (2) donated, transferred, or retained, where the real market value at the time title transferred to the County exceeded the amount of unpaid taxes, fees, and other associated costs.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website FAQ (Jackson County).
- Time to file
- About 4 minutes
Source
Our estimate of how long the official claim form takes. The notice does not say.
From the official site: jacksontaxforeclosure.com.
Free. The official site never charges.
Quick answers
How much is the Oregon tax foreclosure surplus settlement payout?
A share of the fund. $4,919,409.99 fund, split among everyone who files.
Where is the Oregon tax foreclosure surplus settlement claim form?
On the official site, jacksontaxforeclosure.com. Filing is free. The last day to file is Nov 30, 2026.
When will the Oregon tax foreclosure surplus settlement pay?
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Is the Oregon tax foreclosure surplus settlement legit?
The settlement administrator (the company that handles claims) is Kroll, and the official site is jacksontaxforeclosure.com. Real notices point there; if a link in a message goes anywhere else, do not use it.
The official site never asks you to pay to file.
Compare yourself to the official class definition
You may be included if you owned or had a lien on land Columbia, Jackson or Marion County, Oregon tax-foreclosed Oct 23, 2017-June 7, 2024.
It covers Baker County foreclosures from Sept 7, 2018 to June 7, 2024, and heirs and successors of owners and lienholders.
It covers only property the county sold for more than the taxes and costs owed, or kept or gave away when worth more than that.
Check each condition yourself. The boxes are only for you; nothing is sent or stored.
All persons and entities ... and their heirs, successors, and assignees as defined under ‘Potential Claimants’ ... who held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property that Defendants obtained through a foreclosure action to satisfy unpaid real estate taxes or other County or local government taxes, fees, or penalties and whose redemption period expired during the Class Period, as identified on the Claims’ Administrator’s website ... and which the Counties (1) sold for an amount exceeding the unpaid taxes, fees, and other costs associated with that property; or (2) donated, transferred, or retained, where the real market value at the time title transferred to the County exceeded the amount of unpaid taxes, fees, and other associated costs.
From the administrator site: Official settlement website FAQ (Jackson County)
This checklist is for guidance only and can be wrong. Only the court's definition decides. Read the official wording before you file.
How to file
-
Find the code from your notice
- Your Class Member ID, to start the online claim form
-
Gather what you need
No proof of purchase is required.
- Details of the foreclosed property (the online form has an Eligible Property step)
- A choice of how to be paid (the online form has a Payment Selection step)
-
File online, or by mail
At jacksontaxforeclosure.com, by Nov 30, 2026. Filing is free.
Or mail a paper claim form to:Oregon Tax Foreclosure Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, LLC, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391
The deadline note says: “temporarily unable to process claim forms submitted via the online interface ... you can still file a claim by mail” -
Save your confirmation
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again.
Confirm with the administrator before you act.
After you file
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Also ending this week
Related settlements
Case details
- Case
- Gabbert et al. v. Josephine County, et al. and Baker v. Baker County
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
- Case number
- Case No. 1:23-cv-01434-IM (Gabbert) and Case No. 2:24-cv-01503-IM (Baker)
- Administrator
- Kroll
- Official site
- jacksontaxforeclosure.com
- Settlement fund
- $4,919,409.99 (may increase if the counties sell more foreclosed properties before the claim deadline)
- Full payout terms
- Share of $4,919,409.99, tied to your property's surplusPro rata share of the $4,919,409.99 Settlement Fund for a property a county has sold, after attorneys' fees (up to 25%), expenses and service awards; claims on the same property share that property's proceeds. Owners of a few low-value unsold Columbia County properties may share a one-time $3,000 payment, at the county's option.
- Effort
- Easy, about 4 minutes
Other dates
- Opt-out (exclusion) deadline
- (passed) source document
- Objection deadline
- (passed) source document
- Final approval hearing
- (passed) source document
The court’s exact words
All persons and entities ... and their heirs, successors, and assignees as defined under ‘Potential Claimants’ ... who held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property that Defendants obtained through a foreclosure action to satisfy unpaid real estate taxes or other County or local government taxes, fees, or penalties and whose redemption period expired during the Class Period, as identified on the Claims’ Administrator’s website ... and which the Counties (1) sold for an amount exceeding the unpaid taxes, fees, and other costs associated with that property; or (2) donated, transferred, or retained, where the real market value at the time title transferred to the County exceeded the amount of unpaid taxes, fees, and other associated costs.
Quoted from the official notice. Read the notice for the full definition.
Our notes: Per the settlement website, the class is persons and entities, and their heirs, successors and assignees, who held an ownership interest in, or a valid lien on, real property that Baker, Columbia, Jackson or Marion County, Oregon took through a tax foreclosure with the redemption period expiring during the class period, and which the county either sold for more than the unpaid taxes, fees and costs, or donated, transferred or kept when its real market value was more than those amounts. Class period per the home page: foreclosures in Columbia, Jackson or Marion County between October 23, 2017 and June 7, 2024, and in Baker County between September 7, 2018 and June 7, 2024. The claims administrator publishes a list of eligible properties. Other Oregon counties sued in the same lawsuits are not part of this settlement. People who asked to be excluded get nothing.
Sources and checks (5)
- Official settlement website home page (Jackson County) administrator site
- Official settlement website home page (Marion County) administrator site
- Official settlement website FAQ (Jackson County) administrator site
- Official settlement website Important Documents page (Jackson County) administrator site
- Official online claim form (Kroll, linked from Submit Claim) administrator site
What changedLast change Nov 6, 2026
- Updated the claim deadline detail: the site says its online claim form is temporarily unable to process submissions and claims can still be filed by mail. source document
- Page created. Claims open until November 30, 2026. source document
Questions
I already filed. What now?
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again. Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval; once it does, the payment status page shows what is known.