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Homeowner in Court Over Tax Sale Controversy

SCRANTON — Controversy over the sale of some properties in Scranton reached the courtroom Thursday. People claim the city sold their properties without te...
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SCRANTON -- Controversy over the sale of some properties in Scranton reached the courtroom Thursday.

People claim the city sold their properties without telling them, and one those homeowners was in Lackawanna County Court. This is a story Newswatch 16 first brought to you back in November.

Bill McAndrew, a Scranton resident and landlord in the city, has been waiting for his day in court for more than a month. He's fighting to win his house back.  It was back in November when McAndrew found out that the apartment house directly next to his home on Delaware Street in Scranton was sold without his knowledge in a 2013 city tax sale.

In court, McAndrew tried to prove that he was never told about his house being up for sale. Scranton city solicitor Jason Shrive tried to prove otherwise.

Meanwhile, this is all coming with very bad timing for McAndrew's tenants. The Boehmer family has a new baby due in less than two weeks and Christmas is right around the corner.

But, the Boehmers received an eviction notice from the building's new owner, S.A. Realty, telling them to be out this week.

"They duct-taped a paper to the door saying that the property had been bought and do not pay the old landlord any money or it would cause eviction.  So, I called him and he said he bought the property at tax sale and he's my new landlord. He said he would be over to sign a lease," Charles Boehmer said.

Boehmer says no one from S.A. Realty has stopped by. Boehmer has not signed a new lease or been told how much he owes in rent. With all that uncertainty, Boehmer and his neighbor decided not to pay.

Whether or not they can stay in their homes depends on the outcome of the court hearing.

"We've got a baby on the way, due any day. Something seemed real shady, you know. So, I talked to a lot of people and they all said not to pay anybody until after the hearing," Boehmer added.

Testimony at the hearing wrapped up Thursday evening. The judge is expected to make a decision by the end of February. The judge told attorneys that the tenants can stay in their homes while they wait for the ruling.

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