Fla. Court Clerk Files Fed'l Class Action, Says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Didn't Pay Transfer Taxes
A Florida court clerk has filed suit against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, contending that the mortgage-funding giants illegally avoided paying transfer taxes on tens of thousands of properties in the state.
Filed on Thursday by Hernando County Clerk of Courts Karen Nicolai in federal court in Tampa, the suit seeks class action status on behalf of all 67 of the state’s court clerks, the Palm Beach Post reports.
The Hogan Law Firm is handling the suit for the plaintiffs on a contingency basis. However, there is disagreement about whether the court clerks or the state department of revenue should be pursuing the case.
Representatives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac declined to discuss the litigation. A deluge of foreclosures in recent years, as well as court budget cuts, have helped put the issue of whether the two were obligated to pay transfer taxes on the front burner.
