- 1986 - Robert and Donna Force purchased the Otsego County property with a 10-year mortgage, which was fully paid on time. The property taxes were always paid directly to the Otsego County offices, and never late.
- 2010 - Robert Force was injured and endured several surgeries along with the fact that Donna Force was impacted by increased affects of her MS, which caused her limited mobility and memory loss.
- April 30, 2010 - All property taxes were paid on original owned parcels which consisted of 97 acres, 13.68 acres, and.15 acres; which totaled 111 acres.
- June 2012 - Robert and Donna Force went, in person, to the County offices to pay the 2011 taxes. The clerk from the County Treasurers Office refused to accept the 2011 taxes and only would apply payment to the 2012 taxes/current year. (County policy is you must pay the most current year before paying back year’s taxes)
- January 2013 – Otsego County commenced instant proceedings seeking foreclosure on all 3 parcels for non-payment of taxes related to year 2011. Otsego County used NYS Article 11, two years IN Rem, and took possession of all 3 parcels. They started these proceedings 16 months before the final due date for the 2013 taxes which was June 30, 2014. Otsego County Board did NOT have a Board vote, or Resolution, to sell the property, nor to transfer the Deeds.
- July 15, 2014 - 15 days after the tax payment due date of June 30, 2014 Donna Force called Otsego County Treasurer Dan Crowell to pay property taxes for both 2011 and 2013. Donna was confused, due to her MS, and thought the tax due date was July 30th.
- July 15, 2014 - Otsego County Treasurer, Dan Crowell, refused to accept back tax payments for 2011 and 2013 taxes. He stated that once we missed the June 30th, 2014 deadline he could not stop the foreclosure process, and the Force's could not bid on their own property.
- July 16, 2014 - Robert Force retained attorney Jim Konstany, from Oneonta, NY. Mr. Konstany was the former Otsego County Attorney. He contacted the Otsego County Treasurer, Dan Crowell, and Otsego County Attorney, Ellen Coccoma, to request they accept the 2011 and 2013 taxes in arrears.
- July 16, 2014 – Judge Joe Tyson, a friend of Robert Force, contacted Morris, NY Town Clerk, Linda Ewing, to contact Otsego County Treasurer Dan Crowell to ask how many years does it take for the County to foreclose on a property in Otsego County. Mr. Crowell stated that it takes 5 years to start a foreclosure process. During that conversation Mr. Crowell stated, to Ms. Ewing, he "hates to foreclose on a property" and sends certified letters to ensure property owners are aware of the situation.
- July 18, 2014 - Otsego County Attorney, by email, denied the acceptance of payment from Mr. & Mrs. Force. In reply to this email, Mr. Konstany stated that was a 'takings' and in the the past the county accepted late tax payments from property owners prior to the Land Auction..
- July 28, 2014 - Attorney Jim Konstany started proceedings for an Article 78, to put a stay on the deeds. The Forces were informed by a neighbor that NYS Auctions had put a sign on the property and it was listed in this year’s auction catalog.
- July 30, 2014 - Robert Force faxed proof of payment for the 2012 property taxes to his Attorney, Jim Konstany. In this communication Robert Force documented the circumstances why they missed the payment of their 2011 property taxes. Which was due to their families excessive medical bills because of Robert's surgeries and Donna's medical MS treatments..
- July 31, 2014 - Robert Force's attorney Jim Konstany called him at 4:00 PM and requested a copy of the recent foreclosure notice from Otsego County. Robert sent the original tax bill and unpaid taxes for 2011 and 2013. He also sent the 2012 paid property tax receipt and a copy of the Bankers Check for the amount of the 2012 property taxes.
- August 5, 2014 - Robert Force received a fax from Attorney Jim Konstanty regarding the temporary hold on property from the Land Auction Block. The fax indicated that the property was supposed to be pulled from August 2014 auction block..
- August 6, 2014 - Robert Force received notice from Attorney Jim Konstanty that he needed to be at the Otsego County Court in Cooperstown, NY on Aug 18, 2014 at 8:30am 197 Main St. Cooperstown, NY, to go before Judge Burnes to review the Article 78 proceedings.
- August 11, 2014 - Robert Force's Attorney Jim Konstany, requested of him the detailed documentation of the property taxes owed, which he provided. .
- August 18, 2014 - Robert and Donna Force went to Otsego County Court with Judge Burnes presiding. The Judge questioned Otsego County Attorney, Ellen Coccoma, why the County would not let the Force’s pay their back taxes? He also asked the County Attorney how much back taxes do the Force’s owed. The County Attorney had no answers for the judge. The County Attorney asked the judge if she could get back to him by 3:00pm that day as she was ill prepared for the proceedings. The question is why wasn’t the case thrown out of court? Judge Burnes then ordered the County Attorney to make an announcement at the Auction that there was a stay on the convenience on the deeds and that the property was in litigation. By order of the County, the Forces gave their Attorney a check for $21,989.11 to be put into the Otsego County's escrow account to cover what the county stated were the property taxes in arrears. This was the first time in the history of Otsego County that anyone put tax payments in escrow while in litigation with the county. The Forces contented that they owed approximately $13,000 in back taxes for 2011 and 2013.
- August 20, 2014 - All 3 parcels were put on the Foreclosed Land Auction block, while the Forces were still in litigation.
- The County gave no consideration that Robert Force was in a health care facility recovering from his surgeries nor did they care to accept the letter from Donna Force’s neurologist documenting she was suffering from severe memory loss due to her MS.
- August 20, 2014 (Day of Auction) - Prior to the auction, per article 78, Attorney Jim Konstany had a stay put on the conveyance of the deeds. The property was still put on the auction block, but the deeds could not be transferred. The winning bid price of $45,000 went into Otsego County escrow account while the Force's properties were in litigation. Even though Judge Burnes ordered the County Attorney to be present and make an announcement at the auction; she did NOT attend the auction. Otsego County Board Chair Kathy Clark under the direction of the Otsego County Attorney, Ellen Coccoma, put the property back on the auction block without a Board vote or resolution.
- November 5, 2014 – Robert and Donna Force attended the Otsego County Board Meeting to request that their properties be redeemed (returned). Robert presented the Otsego County Clerk and the Board copies of back taxes and a letter from wife’s neurologist confirming Donna’s loss of memory problems due to MS which accounted for the late payment of the property taxes. Mr. Force stated, at the meeting, he ONLY owed 2011 and 2013 taxes at the time of the auction on Aug, 20, 2014. Several of the Board members, including Otsego County Board member Rick Hulse asked Mr. Force “why are you here? It takes 5 years to foreclose on a property and you can pay on the day of the auction.”. Rick Hulse and other County Board members did not know that the Forces were in litigation. Otsego County Veterans advocate Jack Hansen also asked the board “ Why aren’t you helping these Veterans? Not even the IRS would have seized their properties like this"
- November 5, 2014 - Otsego County Board went to closed session to vote on the Force's property, to allow them to redeem their property. Board member Betty Anne Swcherd stated to the board that we should allow Veterans to redeem their properties for their sacrifices and service for our country. Ms. Swcherd asked for a vote to allow the Forces to redeem their property; the Board voted NO. As per Betty Anne Swcherd, the board members, behind closed doors, made unprofessional and rude comments about the American flag Maria Ajello held that day, and were intimidated by her holding the flag. They also laughed concerning what Mr. Force was wearing and stated, “What does Mr. Force think by wearing his uniform, did he think he would get sympathy from us?”
- Feb. 4, 2015 – Robert Force attended an Otsego Board meeting and again requested to the Otsego County Board to redeem his property. County board member Betty Anne Swcherd asked Otsego County Attorney Ellen Coccoma “How many years does it take for Otsego County to foreclose on a property?” County Attorney stated “4 years”. Ms. Schwerd corrected her and stated "you mean 4 consecutive years. So why did you foreclose on Mr. Force’s property when he only owed his 2011 and 2013 taxes? He paid his 2012 taxes.” County Attorney became frustrated and stated that “We shouldn’t be discussing this due to litigation.” At this meeting the Board passed a resolution to take back a piece of property that was bought at the August 20, 2014 land auction by Chuck Barranger and return it to the owner who purchased the property 30 years prior and had his property foreclosed on, twice, without his knowledge. The Otsego County Treasurer, Dan Crowell, allowed the former owner to pay pay 10 years of back taxes prorated, and was allowed his property to be redeemed back to him..
- March 23, 2015 - NYS Appellate Court 3rd Division hearing in Albany, Robert Force attended with Attorney Jim Konstany; Otsego County was represented by Otsego County Attorney, Ellen Coccoma. Robert Force questioned his attorney as to why Ellen Coccoma could represent Otsego County when her husband, Mike Coccoma, who is a NYS Administrative Judge and is in charge of 57 courts in NYS. During the hearing the Judges only questioned Ellen Coccoma about the scanners that the county uses for tax payment purposes. Jim Konstany told the Judge that the Forces only owed 2 years of back property taxes, not 3 and not 4 years of back taxes.
- April 5, 2015 - Robert Force's attorney Jim Konstany suddenly passed away while he was in litigation. Attorney Mike Trossett took over his firm. Robert Force called Mr. Trossett's office various times to discuss the case, but received no return calls.
- May 7, 2015 - The Appellate Court decision was made in favor of Otsego County, NY. Robert Force was not notified by Otsego County nor did he receive a certified court decision.
- May 15 2015. Robert Force found the Appellate Court decision on-line. Mr. Force called Attorney Mike Trossett’s office and informed the female clerk in his office that he had found the court decision on-line. The office clerk indicated that she would follow-up and have Mr. Trossett call Mr. Force back.
- May 16 2015 – Attorney Mike Trossett called Mr. Force, and he said the decision just arrived in office mail. Mr. Trossett continued to tell Mr. Force that he did not know how to handle or proceed in his case with the Appellate Court. Also to note, two weeks later, per Maria Ajello, this same attorney, Mike Trossett, took on her case that had the same issue with payment of late taxes to the Appellate court against Otsego County.
- May 18, 2015 - Robert Force received a return call from Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl. Mr. Force had placed a call to him a week prior asking him to confirm with the County Treasurer, Dan Crowell, how many years of back taxes were owed on the Force property. DA Muehl stated that the County Treasurer said the Forces owed taxes since 2010, which would be a total of 5 years in arrears. During the prior phone call DA Muehl communicated that he thought it took 5 years for the county to foreclose on any property and was under the impression that Mr. Force should have been able to pay his taxes at the day of the auction.
- June 2015 - Robert Force filed an official complaint with the NYS Attorney General’s office. His request was denied. Their reason was “at this time, the office did not wish to investigate this issue”. On this same day an Otsego County resident, Maria Ajello, also filed a complaint the NYS Attorney Generals office about aggressive foreclosure issues. The Ajello complaint was logged at the NYS AG office just after the Force’s complaint. Both complaints, for the same issue, were denied.
- July 1, 2015 – During a Otsego County Board meeting, Board members Rick Hulse and Ed Lentz, the County Board Chair Kathy Clark and County Treasurer Dan Crowell were aggressively pursuing the County Board members to transfer the Force's property deeds to the auction bidder, but could not get a majority vote. Betty Ann Schwerd, County Board member stated at the board meeting “This is the first time she has seen board members and the treasurer be so aggressive in trying to transfer deeds to a property when it is still in litigation.”. After her statement she walked out of the Board meeting.
- August 5, 2015 – Otsego County Board members did not take a board vote nor did they have resolution to transfer the Force properties deeds to the bidder. The County Board Chair, Kathy Clark, on the guidance of the Otsego County Attorney, Ellen Coccoma, issued Quit Claim deeds to transfer properties to the bidder. The document was mailed to the bidder on Friday August 7, 2015. The deed was officially recorded on August 10, 2015. No notification was provided to the Forces on lifting the stay on the deeds. Per Otsego County Land Auction Procedures, the bidder is required to evict the former owner before moving, or entering the property. This did not occur.
- August 9, 2015 – The bidder broke lock on Force's driveway gate, entered the property and the 3 structures (rental home, trailer and barn), then posted private property sign and changed locks on the property. The bidder also disposed of all of the Forces personal property. The bidder did not evict the Forces (as per County and Auction rules). The Bidder did all of this before the deeds were officially recorded on August 10, 2015. Mr. Force received a call from his neighbor that someone was on his property and the gate lock was broken. Mr. Force then called the nearby NY State Trooper office to notify them that a person had cut the lock on their gate and was currently on property. The Forces still had personal property on the premises.
- August 10, 2015 – Robert Force spoke with State Trooper Staples from Troop C Sidney, NY (investigator on the case) to discuss that the bidder had broken into his property as the deeds were not transferred nor was the Forces given an eviction notice to remove personal property.
- August 15, 2015 - Robert Force retained a new attorney, Meir Mosa, Esquire, from Mineola, NY. Mr. Mosa prepared an additional Article 78, filled with details proving the County’s inappropriate application of their own County resolutions in the case of the Force property foreclosure. The Article 78 filing also included documentation and copies of checks of other property owners in Otsego County who paid their taxes late and retained their properties prior to County Land Auction. This filing was intended to give the Otsego County a chance to redeem the Force property quietly and gracefully without additional litigation.
- August 17, 2015 – As a follow-up to the trespassing charges on his property, Robert Force reached out to his local NYS Trooper office and spoke with Sergeant O’Gery in Brentwood, NY.. Sergeant O'Gery indicated that he needed to speak with Trooper Staples before taking any statements to confirm case. Sergeant O’Gery informed Mr. Force that there was nothing the NYS Troopers could do. Through the investigation Sergeant O'Gery was informed by Otsego County that they took possession of the Force deeds back in 2013 (16 months prior to actual final payment date for taxes) and trespassing charges could not be enforced. The County stated that the current deeds were not in the Forces name and further statement from Mr. Force would not be taken.
- August 19, 2015 – Robert Force reached out to the County Treasurer’s office regarding release of his funds from the Country Escrow account.. he was informed by an employee from the Treasurer's Office that they charge a 2% handling fee for issuing a check to him for his money they held..
- August 20, 2015 – Otsego County issued Check Number 1023 in the amount of $21,604.76, paid to the order of Robert Force and Donna Force. The check did not have a signature from County Treasurer, or any signature. The spiteful County Treasure issued a second check at a later date.
- September 9, 2015 - Attorney Meir Mosa, on behalf of the Plaintiff, Robert and Donna Force, filed an Article 78 petition in NYS Supreme court, Otsego County.
- December 2015 - Attorney Mosa met with Otsego County Attorney Ellen Coccoma to discuss the Force case. Attorney Mosa presented copies of checks from property owners who paid their taxes late. In both cases the county backdated the receipt to June 30 for payments received after July 1st. One was dated July 1st and the other was dated August 13. Attorney Coccoma stated and then followed up with a letter that the County would like to negotiate the Force's case prior to going to United States District Court, Eastern District of New York.
- Attorney Coccoma stated she was not sure how she would be able to transfer the properties back to the Forces.
- On February 2015 Robert Force attended an Otsego County Board meeting where a resolution was approved, by majority, to return a property that was foreclosed on, not once, but twice, and both times sold at the County Land Auction. The original 30 year property owner, by Board approval, was allowed to pay 10 years of prorated back taxes and redeemed his property.
- January 26, 2016 - NYS Supreme Court, Otsego County (Judge Burnes) dismissed the Article 78 with prejudice on statue of limitation grounds and the Forces received Due Process.
- November 1, 2016 - Attorney Meir Mosa filed a lawsuit in United States District Court; Eastern District of New York. After several motions by a Syracuse NY Law Firm to dismiss evidence, and the case, the Forces, and their counsel, were threatened with a frivolous lawsuit by the law firm on behalf of Otsego County..
- December 7, 2016 – Robert Force attended Otsego County Board meeting. Minutes after he arrived the Otsego County Attorney left the room and shortly thereafter an Otsego County Sheriff showed up. The Clerk of the Board read notice into the record of the Force Federal Lawsuit. After the Clerk finished reading into the record the lawsuit, Force left the board meeting room.. While standing in the hallway with Maria Ajello, the County Treasurer, Dan Crowell, approached Mr. Force and in a provocative and intimidating manner stood and stared him down. Mr. Crowell seemed very upset over the Force lawsuit. Mr. Crowell did this while the Otsego County Sherriff was standing right behind Mr. Force. Mr. Force did not engage in discussion with Mr. Crowell; he just looked him in the eye, smiled and walked away.
- September 30, 2017 - The US District Court, Eastern District of New York, Dona, L. Irizary, Chief US District Judge dismissed, in their entirety, as to all defendants, with prejudice, for lack of subject matter jury jurisdiction and county defendant’s motions for sanctions is denied. As no claims remain, county defendants motion to strike the amended complaint for violation of federal rule Procedure 8, is denied as moot. The Judge instructed both parties to return to local courts to resolve this issue. As per Mr. Force’s lawyer, this case is not frivolous has merit, and is not moot.
- November 17, 2017 - Robert Force planned to attend Otsego Board meeting. The night before, Mr. Force wrote on his Facebook page, “Pray for my family. Doing a guest appearance at the Otsego County Board Meeting tomorrow and it’s time to drain the swamp in Otsego County.”.
- After parking his vehicle at the Otsego County Building at 9:00AM, Mr. Force was approached and confronted by an Otsego County Court officer who asked him “Mr. Force, how are you feeling today? Are you going to be civil today?”.. Mr. Force did not know why he was being asked this when he first arrived.
- While standing near his vehicle waiting to go into the County building, Mr. Force was approached at 9:30AM by two Otsego County Sheriffs who asked him “Do you have any weapons and can we search your vehicle.” Mr. Force responded “Do you think I am going to do anything stupid? I have over $60,000 in attorney fees and a sick wife at home in a wheelchair.” Mr. Force gave them permission to search his truck. The Sheriffs just looked in the windows.
- After the County Board meeting Mr. Force met with Otsego County DA Muehl, NYS Financial Investigator Sean Ralph, and with Maria Ajello about their foreclosure cases. Mr. Force asked questions about the 5 year Otsego County foreclosure policy. He reminded DA Muehl that in June 2015 he told Robert Force, from what he understood, it took 5 years to foreclose on properties and that Mr. Force had the right to pay back taxes before the County Land Auction.
- During the meeting Mr. Force questioned the amount of monies that the County held in their escrow account that he owed in arrears while he was in litigation. DA Muehl stated that the County would not hold anybody's money in the County escrow account and that it had to be retained in Mr. Force's attorney, Jim Konstany's escrow account.
- Mr. Force informed DA Muehl of the events surrounding the escrow monies ordered by Judge Burnes and the issues involved with getting a check from the County.
- Mr. Force then stated, in the meeting, that he did not receive the full amount that was deposited in the County Escrow Account by his Attorney, Jim Konstany. DA Muehl then stated “You didn’t know that after Jim Konstany passed away it was found that he was skimming money from his clients to support his gambling habits?”. Why would this DA make this statement? It had been 2 years since Mr. Konstany passed away and had nothing to do with Mr. Force's case as Mr. Force had a receipt from Otsego County Treasurer office for the deposit of his money.
- DA Muehl stated that they (Mr. Muehl and Mr. Ralph) have fully investigated the facts and circumstances surrounding the sale of the Force property at the County Land Auction and there is insufficient evidence to prosecute. He also stated that there was no collusion or corruption in the takings of the Force property. He then stated that it was the sole discretion of the Otsego County Treasurer, Dan Crowell, to sell properties.
- Mr. Force also asked about the 2015 embezzlement case of $25,000, involving an Otsego County Treasurer employee, Lawrence Woodards and how his friend laundered by money through a bank in New York City.. Mr. Williamson had to pay back the monies back and was only charged with a misdemeanor.
- In an attempt to highlight the corruption of the County officials, Robert Force stated “Don’t you find it ironic that Lawrence Woodards, who worked for the Treasurer’s office, was the same person who gave copies of checks to an Otsego employee (who forwarded to Mr Force) from property owners who paid their property taxes late in 2015 and were allowed to redeem their properties?” Force then asked “Why haven’t you prosecuted Lawrence Woodards?” At that point both NYS Financial Investigator Sean Ralph and DA Muehl became upset and took offence to what Force said and remarked that “he (Woodard) admitted his guilt and will be prosecuted.” Force tried to show them copies of the paid taxes from the property owners who redeemed their property, but they did not want to see them. Both men came into the meeting without any papers or documents to discuss with Mr. Force and Mrs. Ajello. Their not being prepared or willingness to discuss the facts and issues about the aggressive and illegal foreclosures conducted by the County Treasurer office makes Mr. Force believe that these aggressive foreclosures were illegal and felt this county should have a full investigation of all county property takings.
- November 18, 2017 - The editor of the Otsego newspaper, AllOtsego, Jim Devlin said he read the November 16, 2017 Facebook post by Mr. Force and that there was NO threat given and he noted that Otsego County Attorney, Ellen Coccoma contacted the Sheriff’s office to accuse Mr. Force of making a threat on his Facebook post.
- September 2018 – Robert Force attended the Otsego County Board meeting and gave a historical review of the Save the Force Farm fight to the new board members. He distributed, as in prior meetings, copies of his property tax payment receipts showing he was not five years in arrears of his property taxes.
- March 2019 - By Otsego County Board resolution [101-20190306]; any properties foreclosed NYS Article 11 with two years IN Rem and were not sold at the County Land Auction would be returned to the original property owner with a 15% penalty paid as well as the back taxes.
- July 2019 - By Otsego County Board resolution [198-20190703], Otsego County authorized the return of property owned by Delvan LLC [Land Trust] that was taken by NYS Article 11 two years IN Rem, and sold at the County Land Auction.. The resolution stated that the property owner was not properly notified of the foreclosure and the county wished to avoid the costs and expense of litigation and agreed to reconvey the property to the prior owner upon payment of the taxes due.
- Otsego County Board meeting video with Board member imploring Board to reconsider unlawful taking of the Force Farm: Video
And the saga continues today. LUKE 8:17