207,000-Member Class Action Forces Jackson County into $250M Property Tax Settlement

In 2023, Jackson County, Missouri issued residential property reassessments that sent tax bills soaring for hundreds of thousands of homeowners. Missouri law caps year-over-year residential assessment increases at 15 percent, but the county's valuations pushed well past that ceiling for approximately 207,800 property owners, generating overcharges that persisted through the 2024 tax year.

Nancy Wheeler filed suit on behalf of the affected class in Jackson County Circuit Court, represented by attorneys Kenneth McClain, Jonathan Soper, and Nichelle Oxley of Humphrey, Farrington and McClain. The lawsuit sought a declaration that the county's 2023 assessment process was unlawful and asked the court to order full refunds of every dollar collected above the state-mandated cap. The county initially contested both the Missouri State Tax Commission and the plaintiff class throughout the litigation.

On April 3, 2026, Judge Jacqueline Cook certified the class, defining it as all owners of Jackson County residential real property who paid taxes on a 2023 assessed valuation that rose more than 15 percent over the prior cycle, excluding increases attributable solely to new construction or improvements. The certified class encompassed the majority of the county's roughly 300,000 residential parcels.

With trial on the horizon, Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota reversed the county's litigation posture. In July 2026, the parties announced a proposed settlement valued at approximately $250 million. Current property owners would receive tax credits applied over three years (2026 through 2028), covering the full amount overcharged in 2023 and 2024. Former owners who sold before the settlement could apply for direct cash refunds. A separate 'Special Circumstances Fund' of roughly $6 million was established for class members who had hired independent appraisers or retained personal counsel to contest their assessments.

The proposed settlement is the largest class action settlement in Jackson County history, according to lead counsel Kenneth McClain. It remains subject to final judicial approval. Class members have 45 days from notice to submit claims with supporting documentation.