Woman loses home after mortgage company fails to pay taxes, suit claims

A woman claims she lost her St. Clair County home after her mortgage company failed to pay real estate taxes for her.

Anna M. Kieskalt claims she had a mortgage through defendant CitiMortgage. Kieskalt made payments to CitiMortgage, which were supposed to include principal, interest, real estate taxes and insurance.

"It was then the responsibility of the Defendant to pay real estate taxes on behalf of Plaintiff in a timely manner," the suit filed Oct. 30 in St. Clair County Circuit Court states.

However, CitiMortgage failed to pay Kieskalt's real estate taxes, causing the taxes to be purchased by a tax buyer, according to the complaint.

"The improved residential real estate was lost to a tax buyer because the Defendant failed to pay real estate taxes in a timely manner on behalf of the Plaintiff," the complaint says. "The improved real estate has been lost as a result of the negligent conduct of the Defendant."

Because the tax buyer bought the real estate taxes, Kieskalt claims she is no longer able to live in her home.

Kieskalt is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus other relief the court deems just.

She will be represented by Edward J. Blake Jr. of Blake and Allen in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-589.