The Honorable David Chamberlain Missouri Cases

Jackson County and its public officials sought a writ of mandamus to compel the circuit court to vacate its order denying their motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by property owners. The property owners alleged unlawful increases to assessed property values due to untimely notice and failure to conduct physical inspections. The Missouri Supreme Court made its preliminary writ of mandamus permanent, holding that the property owners failed to exhaust available administrative remedies before filing suit, even if they received late notice of the increased assessments, because administrative appeal avenues were still open.