The Los Angeles Times reports “This land is their land — now,” a story out of Colorado about the ancient legal doctrine of adverse possession. According to the story, a retired judge and his lawyer spouse trespassed on a neighboring vacant parcel of land for over twenty years and then sued for title. And won:
“There’s a mythology of land ownership — that if you own land, you cando anything you want,” he said. Property rights are limited, he said.”This is one of those limitations: If you’re not vigilant, it could betaken.”
The law is based on a philosophy that land should be used, Denver realestate lawyer Willis V. Carpenter said. “If you don’t use it andsomeone else does, they’ll end up owning it,” he said.