Document: 351 U.S. 141 76 S.Ct. 724 100 L.Ed. 1021 Edwin B. COVEY, Committee of the Person and Property Nora Brainard, an Incompetent, Appellant,v.TOWN OF SOMERS. No. 380. Argued March 29, 1956. Decided May 7, Mr.Samuel M. Sprafkin, New York City, for appellant. Mr. Otto E. Koegel, Washington, D.C., appellee. John R. Davison, Albany, N.Y., State York, amicus curiae. Chief Justice WARREN delivered opinion Court. 1 The application Article VII—A, Title 3, Tax Law, McK. Consol.Laws, c. 60, to mentally incompetent ward appellant is challenged as being repugnant Due Process Equal Protection Clauses Fourteenth Amendment. 2 statute, in § 165 et seq., provides judicial foreclosure tax liens on real property. filing at county clerk's office a list taxes delinquent more than four years constitutes notice lis pendens complaint, commences action against Provision made by publication, posting, mailing. prescribed effect that, unless amount unpaid liens, together with interest penalties which are lien property, paid within 7 weeks, or answer interposed 20 days thereafter, any person having right redeem shall be forever foreclosed all his right, title, equity redemption entry judgment awarding possession property district directing execution deed conveying estate fee simple absolute district. provisions 3 purport applicable valid effective respect defendants, even though one them infants, incompetents, absentees, nonresidents York. Section 165—h(7) makes presumptive evidence regularity proceedings. After two this presumption becomes conclusive. further that no set aside may maintained commenced filed prior time 4 We met outset contention appellee curiae, action, distinguished from motion original proceeding here utilized, was exclusive remedy case. statute itself contains suggestion new remedy; it merely limits brought deed. Second Department Appellate Division, decided case, has recognized existence equitable power entertain open default rem proceeding.1 If were not enough, appellee, oral argument, conceded sort contemplated 165—h(7), would have been able attack only ground alleged irregularities assessment Although Attorney General supported contrary position, admitted argument there decision support view. Our conclusion constitutional question properly raised appellant's reinforced Court Appeals amended its remittitur disclose presented necessarily appeal court. 308 N.Y. 941, 127 N.E.2d 90. Manifestly, could reached if had pursued wrong remedy. 5 This started 8, 1952. Town Somers instituted foreclose many parcel owned incompetent. In compliance given taxpayer mail, posting post office, publication local newspapers. No incompetent, entered September 1952, October 24, her town. Five later, Brainard certified County unsound mind, week November 6, she committed Harlem Valley Hospital insane. Thereafter, February 13, 1953, bond pursuant order appointing him 6 Sometime 22, town offered incompetent's sale minimum bid price $6,500. taxes, interest, penalties, costs foreclosure, attorney's fees, maintenance charges aggregated $480. On date, attorney appeared before Board repay due consideration return estate. offer refused.2 Appellant then Westchester County, where entered, show cause why should opened, vacated aside, permission granted 'to appear otherwise move to' foreclosure. He supporting affidavit although Brainard's incompetency known officials, guardian appointed until shortly after contended inadequate case and, therefore, applied 8 trial court, finding deprived rights valid, denied motion. Division Supreme Court, judge dissenting, affirmed parties fixed expiration weeks provided 165—a law. 283 App.Div. 883, 129 N.Y.S.2d 537. Appeals, which, noted before, under Amendment decided, likewise affirmed. 798, 125 862. probable jurisdiction. 350 882, 138. 9 At stage proceedings we bound, courts below, assume facts disclosed uncontroverted affidavits cause. From these appears long-time resident means times financially meet obligations, owning pieces improved addition home taken She lived alone, however, relative other present available assist act behalf connection despite fact upwards 15 officials citizens without mental capacity handle affairs understand meaning served upon her, attempt proceeding. 10 Appellee argues does require take measures giving beyond those deemed sufficient ordinary taxpayer. 11 'An elementary fundamental requirement process accorded finality reasonably calculated, circumstances, apprise interested pendency afford opportunity their objections. * (W)hen person's due, mere gesture process. employed must such desirous actually informing absentee might adopt accomplish it.' Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 306, 314—315, 70 652, 657, 94 865. 12 Notice who protection measure up requirement. Assuming truth uncontradicted assertions, wholly unable nature (from inferred avail herself statutory procedure answer), authorities knew unprotected hold taking circumstances appropriately issue improperly must, reversed remanded inconsistent opinion. 13 Reversed remanded. 14 FRANKFURTER. saw sees it, reversal judgment, reasons Court's opinion, required. My difficulty arises so clear I am compelled wonder whether whose judges again evinced regard would, summary disposition, sanction denial frequent occasion advert darkness confronts us trying determine state legislation scope remedies. particularly true when vouchsafed light either regarding availability subdivision 165—h Law situation, like present, obviously calling relief matter uncertainties law removed conflicting views expressed bar counsel. 16 Nor my dissipated Appeals. It reads follows: 17 'Upon herein passed Constitution United States, Whether Somers, involved, was, record, deprivation equal laws held petitioner.' 862, 18 To sure, thus 'that But, court said, answering namely, 'on record' 'a process.' did because, law, thing reopening 165—a, barred limitations. Since put limit re-opening provision, violation remittitur, read, preclude setting separate accordance 165—h, subd. recital lead find 19 hypothesis basis returned, allow full remedies still petitioner. Nelson City 722, 854. A subsequent denied, 284 894, 134 597. That 309 94, 827, pending 930, 786. Thereafter rescheduled $3,500.

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