Former property owners in Yamhill County, Oregon, may qualify for cash under a proposed class action settlement tied to property tax foreclosures dating back to 2017. A class action is a lawsuit where many people with the same legal claim are grouped together as a single filing, rather than each person pursuing a separate case. The lawsuit is Martin Lynch, et al. v. Multnomah County, et al., federal case number 3:23-cv-01502.
Who qualifies
The settlement class covers anyone who owned, inherited, or held any legal interest in Yamhill County property that was foreclosed for non-payment of property taxes. The eligible window runs from October 12, 2017, through May 8, 2026.
Property tax foreclosure is the process a county uses to take legal title to real estate when an owner falls behind on the annual tax bill. The county files a legal action, and if the debt goes unpaid past the deadline, the property transfers out of the owner's name entirely. Former owners typically lose the right to reclaim the property once that transfer is complete.
The settlement's inclusion of people who "inherited" an interest carries practical weight. Heirs may have a valid claim even when they were never listed on the original deed, as long as the property in question falls within the covered county and time window.
The case and who is running it
The lawsuit names Multnomah County as the lead defendant, with additional parties listed under the "et al." shorthand. Yamhill County property owners are explicitly included in the settlement notice, placing that county's foreclosures within the scope of the case.
Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, a Philadelphia-based claims administrator, is handling the settlement process. The firm issued the public notice on July 16, 2026.
What happens before any money moves
A proposed settlement is an agreement the parties have reached at the negotiating table, but a federal judge must formally approve it before it becomes binding. Nothing is paid out during the proposed stage, and specific terms can still change before final approval.
The announcement did not disclose a total settlement dollar amount. The case number, 3:23-cv-01502, is the reference claimants will need when contacting Kroll Settlement Administration for deadline and filing instructions.