SpaceX has settled a lawsuit filed by Cards Against Humanity regarding trespassing allegations concerning a Texas property owned by the game company. Texas court records revealed that the settlement was achieved just weeks prior to a jury trial originally set to commence on November 3. Cards Against Humanity has chosen not to disclose the settlement terms, and SpaceX has not responded to inquiries regarding the case.
The Chicago-based company initially purchased the Texas land in 2017 as part of a protest against former President Donald Trump's border wall initiative. Cards Against Humanity claimed in their lawsuit that SpaceX treated their property in Cameron County recklessly, using the land as a staging area for materials without permission for at least six months.
According to the lawsuit, SpaceX had previously acquired surrounding parcels of land and had deposited construction materials, including gravel and debris, onto the plaintiff's property without applying for consent.
During the discovery phase of the litigation, Cards Against Humanity stated that SpaceX acknowledged its trespassing actions. The company determined that moving forward with a trial would not be financially prudent, citing the potential costs exceeding anticipated winnings.
“The silver lining is that SpaceX has removed their construction equipment from our land and we’re able to work with a local landscaping company to restore the land to its natural state: devoid of space garbage and pointless border walls,” they mentioned in an email.
Cards Against Humanity earlier noted that more than 150,000 individuals contributed towards the acquisition of the land and they initially hoped to recompense those donors through settlement proceeds. Despite asking for $15 million in damages, including compensation for vegetation loss, Cards Against Humanity cautioned supporters that they might only recover a minimal amount from the settlement.
The land has been maintained in its natural state by Cards Against Humanity, which has taken steps to alert trespassers with a visible 'no trespassing' sign.
