Opinion ID: 1173324
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: reimbursement to defendant wells

Text: Wells, the purchaser of the Hughes and Brower properties at the tax sale, cross claimed against the City for return of the purchase price and damages. The trial court dismissed Wells' damage claim but ordered the City to repay the purchase price on both properties. Wells has appealed the dismissal of his claim for damages. [6] Generally, caveat emptor applies to purchasers at tax sales, and the purchase price may not be recovered if the tax sale is subsequently declared void. Anderson v. King Cy., 200 Wash. 354, 93 P.2d 284 (1939); Shelton v. Klickitat Cy., 152 Wash. 193, 277 P. 839 (1929). However, in Wingard v. Heinkel, 70 Wn.2d 730, 424 P.2d 1010 (1967), we ordered the purchase price refunded when the County failed to properly describe the property throughout the foreclosure process. Failure to properly describe the property deprived the trial court of jurisdiction, and rendered the tax sale totally without consideration. In the present case, because the notices of foreclosure proceedings were constitutionally inadequate, the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the foreclosure action. The tax sale to Wells was, therefore, without consideration and Wells is entitled to a refund of moneys paid. Wells cites no authority to support his claim for damages against the City. While caveat emptor should not preclude recovery of the purchase price, the general application of the doctrine to tax sales defines the duties owed by the City or County to the purchaser. A purchaser at a tax sale takes without warranties, gambling on the validity of title purchased for a nominal price with expectations of large profits. Anderson v. King Cy., supra . The trial court properly denied Wells' claim for damages.