Letters to the Editor

I received an interesting e-mail today from of all people, a land surveyor, Sean Joyce of Joyce Surveying and Mapping Associates. He copied me on a letter to a reporter, Kathie Durbin of the Columbian Newspaper in Washington.

In particular, Mr. Joyce took offense to Ms. Durbin's article, "Law Sparks Boundary Wars"

Quoting Mr. Joyce he believes the news article should be entitled, "Inept attorneys spark boundary disputes." Sadly, Mr. Joyce is blinded by his own bias of being a land surveyor. As the issue with adverse possession has nothing to do with "inept" attorneys. The fundamental issue is that adverse possession is an unfair, immoral and unnecessary law that need not exist anymore.

In his letter to the editor, Mr. Joyce fell into the same logical trap that so many people fall into. His argument is that because adverse possession has been around for hundreds of years, it must be a good law. This is the logical fallacy known as an "Appeal to Tradition."

In essence, it was the same logic that was used to support why slavery should exist. After all, it had been legal to own slaves in the United States for decades. Why change?

Adverse possession is just as repugnant and immoral as slavery. Yet today, the same supporters of adverse possession use the same logic and ill-formed arguments to keep it alive.

I can not change Sean Joyce's viewpoint as his opinion is based on emotion rather than truth. I suspect that other, narrow-minded individuals will cling onto this 800 year old belief that legalized land theft is acceptable.

But, at the end of the day, who I have to praise is Kathie Durbin and other reporters who have the courage to write about this pernicious law. For legalized land theft to end, people need to share their stories -- to editors, lawmakers, heck - even land surveyors. And likewise, we need those letters to the editors to show the human side and detriment of what legalized land theft is all about.

Democrat Confusion about Change

Most people would probably agree that NPR is a liberal media outlet. And most would agree that liberal Democrats are in favor of change... heck, CHANGE was the mantra of our President Obama's campaign.

Yet, there is one Democrat in Washington state, Jamie Pedersen, who is firmly set against change... well, at least change that does not upset his campaign contributors -- lawyers and lobbyists. It boggles the mind how this liberal Democrat is so entrenched in keeping the status quo when it comes to legalized land theft. That is a shame.

"Change," Mr. Pedersen. That is what the people want. Perhaps you should listen to NPR more often!

Adverse Possession and Greed

From our research, we are finding out that the majority of people are unaware of adverse possession, however there are those in the legal community and real estate profession who know this law intimately.

Interestingly, those who know about adverse possession also seem to be the ones who want to exploit legalized land theft for their own personal gain.

In Nevada, a former real estate agent, Eric Alpert, decided to use a claim of adverse possession to make money. Interestingly, he did it not to actually steal property, no - he used it as an attempt to claim ownership of homes that he would then rent out to unknowing victims.

The whole story of greed is here in the Las Vegas Review Journal: http://www.lvrj.com/business/ex-agent-arrested-for-renting-homes-he-didnt-own-63393017.html

Bottom line - there is a direct correlation between adverse possession and greed. Whether a greedy neighbor claims adverse possession to steal land that they never owned nor paid for, or its a former real estate agent using it to run a rental scam like Eric Alpert, the point is adverse possession promotes greed in ways that outweigh any benefit to society. It is time for adverse possession to end now!

Another Couple Loses Land to Adverse Possession

Again, it is time for adverse possession to come to an end. Here is another example of a couple in Pennsylvania who has lost their investment to legalized land theft!

http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/couple_loses_land_to_squatter_s_rights_law

I think her quote sums up the experience of losing your land to a neighboring thief...

"It's just not ethical," she said. "I wouldn't do that to somebody. It's so much like stealing. (The neighbors) didn't pay the taxes on it, nor did they have the deed. We paid the taxes on it, all those years.

"I think people should be made aware that this law exists," she continued. "I don't want to see this happen to someone else. We should teach children in school skills they will need to live, like how to balance a checkbook and how the stock market works. We should also teach them about the law."

News Coverage Hits the Mark

Yesterday, End Adverse Possession Now announced its formal support and endorsement for Washington state House Bill 1479, which would put an end to adverse possession (aka legalized land theft) claims in Washington.

I'm pleased to say that this announcement garnered widespread online pick-up, and more interestingly, it got a couple of placements in two key political/state legislative sites.

Lastly, this announcement touched another citizen who is also facing a neighbor stealing his property. In support of our cause, he too is making a donation to help us fight against and eradicate legalized land theft. Thank you for your donations!!

Here are a few of the highlight links:

• AOL Money News
• Puget Sound Business Journal
• Seattle Times
• State House News Service
  
• US Politics Today
• Yahoo! News

Your contributions and donations help us inform the public and change legislative policy. If you want to help end this repugnant law, you can help us here: EndAdversePossession.org

Who do Representatives Really Support?

Last week, I had the pleasure of talking with Representative Ed Orcutt, who is the Washington state sponsor of bill HB 1479, which is an act that would end legalized land theft (aka adverse possession) in Washington state.

All politics aside, Mr. Orcutt is one top-notch representative (all other representatives, please take note).

Last time I checked, we live in a representative democracy, where the PEOPLE elect those to represent OUR needs, wants and desires. This way, laws are passed that reflect the majority of the population.

In sponsoring HB 1479, Mr. Orcutt is doing exactly what his duty requires - to create laws that the populace wants.

In fact, Mr. Orcutt was kind enough to provide End Adverse Possession Now with a quote regarding his views on HB 1479 and ending legalized land theft.

“I have seen the cost and headaches suffered by homeowners as they try to defend their property from taking via adverse possession and the resulting heartache when they lost it anyway – for no valid reason,” says the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep Ed Orcutt (R) Kalama. “It is a law that made sense in ancient times but has little or no value today. It is an issue which needs to be addressed by the legislature to fit modern times – before it tears apart more families and neighborhoods."

This stands in stark contrast to Rep. Jamie Pederson, whom I have also shared communications with. Mr. Pedersen, a lawyer by trade and Yale Law School graduate, advocates legalized land theft, and despite numerous e-mails and calls to his office by many constituents in Washington, Mr. Pedersen instead sides with the attorneys who have so much to lose if HB 1479 passes.

And, that is the issue... instead of being a representative of the PEOPLE, Mr. Pedersen prefers to represent his attorney friends (the same, which by the way who contributed significantly to his election).

We stand on the cusp of new legislation, HB 1479, which would end legalized land theft. It is time that our representatives do the right thing, and show their support of this bill that represents fairness and justice for all.

Adverse Possession Forum

I am very excited to state that End Adverse Possession Now has launched a web-based user forum so that people can share their experiences about legalized land theft. As well, it establishes an information repository so that legislators and other industry influencers can see first hand how damaging adverse possession is and its negative impact on people's lives and their communities.

Adverse possession is repugnant and like other reprehensible laws of history, like slavery, it needs to end now!

Here is the link to our forum: http://www.eapnow.org/phpbb/

We've already got a couple of real life stories of people who have been affected by legalized land theft. We need your story to bring adverse possession to an end!

Washington's House Judiciary Committee

For House Bill 1479 to pass, these people must move the bill out of committee and to the floor.

These Representatives comprise the Washington State House Judiciary Committee:

1. Pedersen, Chair;
2. Goodman, Vice Chair;
3. Rodne;
4. Shea;
   
5. Flannigan;
6. Kelley;
7. Kirby;
   
8. Ormsby;
9. Roberts;
   
10. Ross;
11. Warnick

By clicking on each name, you can get each Representative's contact information.

Please contact all of the above members to let them know YOU SUPPORT HB 1479. LEGALIZED LAND THEFT NEEDS TO END NOW!

Battleground - 43rd Legislative District

This map is the key to ending legalized land theft in Washington state. It is the 43rd Legislative District in Seattle.

There is a bill, HB 1479, that effectively ends the law of adverse possession in Washington. However, it sits in the House Judiciary Committee, which is headed up by Rep. Jamie Pedersen of this very District.























If Pedersen truly is a representative, then he needs to listen and follow his constituents, who want adverse possession to end now. Getting this bill out of the Judiciary Committee and onto the floor for a vote is critical to ending legalized land theft!

Tell Pedersen (pedersen.jamie@leg.wa.gov) that HB 1479 needs to pass!

Better still, ask him why he thinks stealing property is okay? You're likely to get a canned response about adverse possession is not a bad law; it's the homeowner's fault, or that it is similar to having someone take a necklace from you, or some other nonsense answer.

Bottom line is that Pedersen needs to understand stealing is wrong, period.

If you live in this zone or know of someone who does, please have them contact Reps. Jamie Pedersen (pedersen.jamie@leg.wa.gov), Frank Chopp (chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov) and their district Senator, Ed Murray (murray.ed@leg.wa.gov).

If HB 1479 is going to end adverse possession in Washington, it will all come down to those who live in this district informing Mr. Pedersen that legalized land theft needs to end now!

New Volunteer Joins End Adverse Possession Now

End Adverse Possession Now continues to grow at an alarmingly fast rate!

I am pleased to announce that we have a new volunteer who joined within days of our official launch announcement (see this link in the Puget Sound Business Journal): http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/prnewswire/press_releases/Washington/2009/08/25/SF65501

The support of volunteers and contributions are key to our success and ability to fight against legalized land theft.

I look forward to more volunteers joining our cause and helping to change history by abolishing this reprehensible, outdated and unnecessary law of adverse possession. - CM