A Colville Judge Just Voided Thousands of Tax Deeds — and Owners May Get Their Land Back

In the superior court at Colville Judge Richardson has rendered a decision regarding tax titles, which may also be made to apply to other counties in the state. The case was that of J. H. Young versus Louis Droz, involving the validity of Stevens County tax titles based upon the general foreclosure judgment filed in December, 1902. This, in effect, declares the judgment null, and all persons who have suffered loss of property by sale under that judgment may now pay into the county treasury the amount of their taxes to date and redeem their property.

The decision affects the title to over 3,000 pieces of real estate in that county and opens up to the county treasurer the collection of nearly $20,000 in taxes that have been canceled by operation of the proceedings involved. If the purchaser at tax sale paid less than the taxes, he is ahead the difference. Most of the property bought in under the void judgment by the county has since been sold by the treasurer under order of the board of county commissioners. In the case at bar the property has since been improved by the addition of valuable buildings, the value of which may be lost.

There have been similar proceedings in other counties, but never has the question of the legality of these been raised. Now that the Stevens County court has decided against the holders of tax titles, owners who lost their property in other counties will undoubtedly test the law.