City of Washington, DC

Thousands of DC homeowners were part of a class action lawsuit filed against they city alleging 2002 property taxes were unfairly increased. A DC Superior Court judge found the increase in assessments for 35,000 homeowners were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and in violation of the law when city officials changed how they assessed residential property. The city of Washington has been ordered to issue cash refunds amounting to $15 million. (Dec-01-05) [THE COMMON DENOMINATOR]