Owner financing and Buyer owes 5k unpaid property taxes

[Amy Nguyen]

I owner financed 5 acres of land to a gentleman with an auto salvage business in 2013. I find out that along with the buyer I am named in a lawsuit for unpaid property taxes.  He owes about 5k in unpaid property taxes.  He claims to have made several payments of $500 and $1k for past several years.  However records show no payments for 2015-2017.  The buyer has no clue that he is in a lawsuit or that the case will be going to trial tomorrow.  Correct me if i am wrong but there is potential for the property to auctioned by the county? At this point i feel i should pay taxes to prevent that and should i also forclose on buyer?