Matt BlazeSep 21, 2024

Crowdfunded effort (led by the awesome Cards Against Humanity folks) bought a tract of pristine land in Texas near the Mexican border a few years ago to prevent development (such as a border wall), and to leave it in a natural state.

This year, Space X unilaterally started building on the tract, without anyone's permission, causing irreparable harm to the natural state of the land. Not cool, says the owner.

Hilarity currently en-suing. https://www.cahsuesmusk.com/

Elon Musk Owes You $100 • Cards Against Humanity Saves America Day 7

Elon Musk stole your land, and now he owes you $100.

Show threadMatt BlazeSep 21, 2024
Texas is an interesting venue for this. While it's a mistake to paint with too broad a brush (it's a diverse place), I'd guess that Texas juries (assuming this is a jury case) are likely to set aside their dislike for lefty plaintiffs who try to block border walls in favor of their enthusiasm for enforcing property rights.
Show threadMatt Blaze
It also looks like in Texas adverse possession can be triggered, under some circumstances, after as little as three years (though under most circumstances it requires five or ten years), so if SpaceX's strategy is "just develop vacant land and hope you get away with it", that might actually sometimes work.
Sep 21, 2024 at 11:46pmWeb
Show threadAI6YR BenSep 21, 2024
@mattblaze So you're saying I could go put up a house somewhere and if no one figures it out in 3 years, I have my own ranch?! LOL
Show threadMatt BlazeSep 21, 2024
@ai6yr I believe or three years you need to have some proof (even if wrong) that you own the land. For five years, it may be sufficient to have just been paying property taxes and otherwise acting like you own it.
Show threadChuckSep 22, 2024
@ai6yr @mattblaze There was a guy in Nevada that tried that on what turned out to be BLM land. Apparently you cannot adversely possess federal land, (or native american lands for that matter).
Show threadAllan ChowSep 21, 2024
@mattblaze it's so dumb how many people depend on this. Not just corporations but just neighboring landowners in rural areas
Show threadparamnesiacSep 22, 2024
@mattblaze I did not realize Texas had squatter's rights, but I guess it makes some sense in a state where everyone's armed.
Show threadTom JacobSep 22, 2024
@mattblaze don’t you have to be paying taxes on that property for the smaller time limit to trigger? What are the chances of that?
Show threadNKTSep 22, 2024
@tomjacob @mattblaze Elon paying taxes? Slim to none. He paid less tax than an average earner, despite absolutely printing (government) money.