County Tax Attorney Purchasing Property at Tax Foreclosure Sale
Adopted: April 21, 2006
Opinion rules that the county tax attorney may not bid at a tax foreclosure sale of real property.
Inquiry #1:
Attorney A is the tax attorney for the county. If the county's tax collector is unsuccessful in collecting taxes, the case is referred to Attorney A for legal action. Ordinarily, Attorney A sends a demand letter to the delinquent taxpayer. If the demand letter does not result in payment, Attorney A files a foreclosure action. If service of the lawsuit does not result in the payment of taxes, the presiding judge appoints Attorney A as the commissioner to foreclose upon the real property to satisfy the taxes due. Attorney A then follows all statutory procedures for a foreclosure action. The county always "bids in" the property for the amount of back taxes owed plus the costs that have accrued.
On at least one occasion, a property owner contacted Attorney A after receiving the demand letter and offered to sell her property directly to Attorney A to satisfy her tax liability. Attorney A agreed to purchase the property directly from the property owner. On another occasion, Attorney A instructed his paralegal to attend the public auction and submit a bid in excess of the amount bid by the county if no one else bid on the property. The paralegal submitted the only other bid and later transferred the real property to Attorney A for the amount bid at auction. May Attorney A, who is the appointed commissioner, submit a bid on her own account at a tax foreclosure sale she is conducting?
Opinion #1:
No. As the appointed commissioner, Attorney A has a duty to oversee the sale of the foreclosed property in a fair and impartial manner. Advancing a personal interest by bidding on the foreclosed property violates this duty. G.S. §105-374; Hinson v. Morgan, 225 N.C. 740, 36 S.E. 2d 266 (1945); Rule 8.4(d); see also RPC 24 and RPC 82.
Inquiry #2:
If Attorney A may not submit a bid, may she have an agent or employee bid on her behalf?
Opinion #2:
No. Attorney A must insure that the conduct of her employee is compatible with her own professional obligations. Rule 5.3(b)(c).
Inquiry #3:
May Attorney A agree to purchase property from a delinquent taxpayer who offers to sell her property to Attorney A prior to the initiation of a formal tax foreclosure proceeding?
Opinion #3:
No, Attorney A may not purchase property directly from a delinquent taxpayer unless she has a reasonable belief that her personal interest in the property will not adversely affect the representation of the county, the transaction is fair, and she has obtained the informed consent of the county, confirmed in writing. Rule 1.7 and Rule 1.8(b). The duty to disclose and obtain the consent of the county arises as soon as the lawyer decides to act in her own interest by offering to purchase the property in written or oral communications with the taxpayer.
If Attorney A obtains the consent of the county, she must also follow the disclosure requirements in Rule 4.3 when dealing with unrepresented taxpayers. Specifically, she may not state or imply that she is disinterested and she must make reasonable efforts to correct any misunderstandings in this regard. She must also refrain from giving legal advice to unrepresented taxpayers other than the advice to secure counsel.