July 3rd, 2008

Boulder Property Rights Coalition Takes Shape

From the Daily Camera

Dana Marshall’s wounds are still fresh from a lawsuit decided just over a month ago that ordered her to give up a slice of her backyard to her neighbor. But it hasn’t beaten her down. It’s fired her up.

Now Marshall says she wants to make sure no one else in Boulder has to endure an adverse-possession case without support, and so Wednesday night, she convened the inaugural meeting of the Boulder Property Rights Coalition. The meeting at the Boulder Public Library drew about two dozen people, including the south Boulder couple whose own land loss thrust adverse possession into the spotlight — Don and Susie Kirlin.

“This has just happened to me, so I am fresh with indignation,” Marshall said. “But the Kirlins — they’re a lot more Zen. Susie called me every morning of the trial. … I want anybody else who has this kind of problem to have that kind of support.”

Marshall’s case revolved around a dispute about who owned a 60-foot-tall privacy fence that divided her property from her neighbors Mohammad and Gay Salim. When Marshall tore the fence down to enhance her view, the Salims argued the fence and the narrow strip of land it bordered was theirs. A judge agreed and ordered Marshall to replace the fence, which the Salims said was protecting their privacy.

The freshly formed group is drawing inspiration and counsel from the Colorado Property Rights Coalition, which has been up and running for about a year and a half with only a shoestring budget and a whole lot of passion. Tom Wambolt, the group’s president, was on hand Wednesday night to give a little guidance.

Read the full story.

The Boulder Property Rights Coalition is hosting a rights rally from 1 to 4 p.m. July 26 at the downtown band shell. For more information, visit www.landgrabber.org.