Ural Family Wins Second Lawsuit Against Bailiffs for Secret Sale
A court rules on compensation claims against the Federal Bailiff Service after a property dispute.
A family from Verkhnyaya Pyshma (Sverdlovsk Region) has sued bailiffs and secured compensation for their mistake.
We have been following the situation for several years and reported on it in detail. In autumn 2023, the family«s two-room apartment was sold without their knowledge. The Klimovs only found out when the new owner knocked on their door. The apartment was auctioned off to cover an unpaid debt, which had been purchased from the bank by debt collectors.
In spring 2024, the family proved in court that the bailiffs had overstepped their authority, and have now secured compensation for moral damages. The amount awarded, however, is paltry.
«From the moment the people found out they were no longer the owners until the regional court ruled that the bailiffs were wrong, five months passed. All that time the people were living in constant fear. Realizing that the courts would not award large sums for moral damages, we asked for just 50,000 rubles (about $550), although the suffering endured by the family certainly cannot be measured in 50,000 rubles. In the end, they received even less – only 15,000 rubles (about $165),» said the family«s lawyer, Zarina Adiyeva.
The court also ordered the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP) to pay 25,000 rubles (about $275) for legal representation costs and 3,000 rubles (about $33) for the state duty. The opposing party has already filed an appeal.
It should also be noted that after the court sided with the Klimovs, the bailiffs resumed enforcement proceedings regarding the debts, even though they had effectively already been repaid. The debtor is also being asked to return 900,000 rubles (about $9,900) that she received into her account after the apartment was sold and all debts were settled. Court proceedings on this matter are still ongoing.
The apartment itself, due to imposed security measures, still belongs to the company that won it at the auction.
Read about for what reasons your apartment can be seized and sold at auction. Also, an expert previously explained what happens if you stop making mortgage payments.
