aint' kidding...
you guessed it- it's not about the fence....:-(
I have one that claims 46 acres was only supposed to be about 9 acres.
Like yours, it's not about the fence.
Ouch. Mediate, Mediate, mediate. and get paid for it. Show em the soothing powers of the all knowing surveyor...... well, Maybe that was just a Sunday cartoon from my youth. Good luck.
Had a client (lawyer) in LA want us to dig up a 50 year old party wall foundation to see what side the majority of the footings laid on so he could spin some sleezy angle on his neighbor. Had to explain the definition of a party wall, common ownership ect, politely told him no thanks to the digging, and sent him a few party wall court cases for him to choke on.
My parents told me about a "neighborly" lawsuit over about 0.10. The tennis court somehow landed over the line in an area where home prices were, at that time, worth half a million or more.
Cut 0.04' off Fence Footings
How about a dispute over the location of a fence where the "winner" made the "loser" excavate each fence post and sawcut 0.04' away from each concrete pour! Yes, very expensive properties in southern california.
The surveyors from each side pretty much agreed over the common property line.
just shake your head and walk away...
Most Memorable........
.......was a fist fight in the middle of the sidewalk between two neighbors fighting over about one inch.
Our client wanted to paint the side of his house, but, due to a 1 foot sideline setback, was having a hard time getting his ladder in the space. He wanted to prove that the gatepost and the rest of the fence was over the line. (It was right on the line.)
Luckily it began just as we finished packing up and getting into the truck.
I remember one.
The 2 neighbors were straddling the common side line, waiting for us to arrive.
(at least they were smiling) You could tell it was a friendly dispute and they wanted to see who was right.
One had planted a hedge up front, the other had planted bushes at the rear.
All along the disputed side line. Each accused the other of being wrong. Each had a survey and KNEW where the line was.
Turns out, the side line was 3 segments, not one line. I love this part, THEY WERE BOTH WRONG!
They chuckled at the out come, and immediately started to dig up and move hedges and bushes into the correct positions.
I wish all neighbors had that attitude.
Jeff Lucas says it's $30K minimum to go to court. Explain that to them.