Couple in street sale row vow to fight on despite ‘huge’ legal bill after reversal of San Francisco street purchase
Michael Cheng and Hong Kong native Tina Lam intend to take their case to court after Californian city returns street they had bought to homeowners along the road
Taiwanese immigrant Michael Cheng and Hong Kong native Tina Lam said authorities had showed a “willingness to overlook the law” after their purchase of two and a half years ago was declared void by city officials.
In a bid to keep hold of the street, Cheng said they would solicit donations from supporters through crowdfunding to cope with an expensive court battle in the hope a judge would find in their favour.
In April 2015, the duo of investors bought Presidio Terrace for US$90,100 (HK$704,000) at an auction after it was put up for sale by the authorities. Residents of multimillion-dollar homes along the stretch had failed to pay US$994 in overdue tax.
In August this year, the residents discovered the land had been sold, triggering a legal dispute that forced city officials to rule on the rightful owners of the street.
San Francisco returns street to homeowners, reversing tax default sale to couple slammed as ‘speculators’
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors ruled 7-4 in favour of reversing the sale.