California Energy Loan Disputes Must Start as Tax Cases (1)

Seniors alleging they were improperly targeted for green energy improvement loans secured by their homes must first seek a property tax refund from the county, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The homeowners, all age 65-and-over, asked the high court to review an intermediate appellate court ruling rejecting their arguments that the case raises unfair business practice allegations against the companies that administered their home improvement loans under the state’s Property Assessed Clean Energy Program. Because the loan payments are billed and paid as special assessments on their property taxes, the homeowners are in fact challenging bills from their county ...