New England Farmer Sues Town for ‘Home Equity Theft’ in Federal Court

New England Farmer Sues Town for ‘Home Equity Theft’ in Federal Court
Alan DiPietro in an undated photograph at his alpaca farm in central Massachusetts. Courtesy Pacific Legal Foundation
Matthew Vadum
Matthew Vadum
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After a town in central Massachusetts seized dramatically more than what a farmer owed in property taxes, the farmer is suing the town in federal court for alleged “home equity theft.”

Alpaca farmer Alan DiPietro, an engineer by training who lives outside of Worcester, filed suit (pdf) earlier this month against the town of Bolton, claiming that the seizure constitutes an unlawful taking of his property in violation of the Massachusetts Constitution and the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.