Baker County Commissioners Approve $359,000 Settlement in Foreclosure Lawsuit

The settlement resolves a federal class action lawsuit involving multiple counties over the sale of foreclosed properties.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A photorealistic painting of a stately county courthouse building in warm, golden light, with deep shadows across the facade, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the legal and financial issues involved in the foreclosure settlement.The settlement of a class action lawsuit over foreclosure sales underscores the complex legal and financial challenges facing local governments.Baker City Today

The Baker County Board of Commissioners voted 2-0 to approve a $359,000 settlement as part of a proposed class action lawsuit resolution involving the sale of foreclosed properties. The lawsuit was filed after a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that counties must give former property owners a chance to recoup the difference between the tax debt and the higher sale price of the foreclosed property. The settlement affects sales of foreclosed properties in Baker County between 2018 and 2024.

Why it matters

This settlement highlights the impact of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on counties across Oregon, requiring them to change their practices around the sale of foreclosed properties. The case raises questions about the rights of former property owners and the potential windfalls counties have received from these sales.

The details

The $359,000 settlement is Baker County's share of a total $4.9 million fund that also includes settlements from Jackson, Marion, and Columbia counties. The lawsuit was filed by Jerry Baker, a former property owner in Huntington, who lost his property in a 2018 foreclosure after falling behind on taxes. The county then sold the property in 2022 for $38,000, significantly more than the $3,198 in taxes owed. A new Oregon law passed in 2025 requires counties to keep foreclosure sale proceeds in a separate fund and allow former owners to claim the difference between the sale price and tax debt.

  • The Baker County Board of Commissioners voted on the settlement on April 8, 2026.
  • The settlement affects the sale of foreclosed properties in Baker County between 2018 and 2024.

The players

Baker County Board of Commissioners

The governing body of Baker County, Oregon that voted 2-0 to approve the $359,000 settlement.

Jerry Baker

A former property owner in Huntington, Oregon who filed a class action lawsuit against Baker County and other Oregon counties over the sale of foreclosed properties.

Kim Mosier

The county counsel for Baker County who met with commissioners in an executive session to discuss the proposed settlement.

Michael Zhang

A Portland attorney representing Jerry Baker and others in the class action lawsuit.

Oregon Legislature

Passed a law in 2025 requiring counties to keep foreclosure sale proceeds in a separate fund and allow former owners to claim the difference between the sale price and tax debt.

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What they’re saying

“Commissioners will discuss during their April 15 meeting where the $359,000 will come from. One option is the county's insurance fund, which it uses to buy insurance for employees.”

— Michelle Kaseberg, Baker County Commissioner

What’s next

A federal judge must still approve the proposed $4.9 million settlement involving the four counties.

The takeaway

This settlement highlights the significant impact of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on counties across Oregon, requiring them to change their practices around the sale of foreclosed properties and potentially pay millions in compensation to former owners. It raises broader questions about the rights of property owners and the potential windfalls counties have received from these sales.