The state Supreme Court in Nebraska has reversed itself in a fight over home equity that was confiscated by the government.

The change of heart might not have been exactly voluntarily, however.

It did have directions from the U.S. Supreme Court to do so.

The fight that developed is becoming more and more common across the nation, even as multiple organizations fight the trend.

It's the result of homeowners who fall behind on their taxes, and when governments then sell those debts to others and the owners ultimately lose all of their equity.

Lost many times in the judiciary finagling is the fact that homeowners have significant equity in their homes, and that value routinely was being confiscated from them.

For example one Nebraska man lost his $60,000 home over a tax bill for $5,268. When the government sold his home, he got nothing.

But, according to Pacific Legal Foundation, which has fought such cases many times, the court reversal now means that lower courts will determine the value of the property, and how much compensation must be paid.

The legal team's Christina Martin said, "We are thrilled that after years of litigation, Nebraska finally recognizes Kevin Fair's and Sandra Nieveen's right to their hard-earned equity. The Nebraska Supreme Court held that home equity is protected by the Constitution and that the government cannot take more than what it is owed. This is a great outcome for our clients and all homeowners in the state."

The situation developed when, in 2013, Kevin Fair's late wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and he quit his job to care for her at their Scottsbluff, Nebraska, home. Soon he fell behind on his property taxes and the county sold a tax lien for the unpaid taxes to Continental Resources, a private investor.