SpaceX has settled a lawsuit filed by the maker of the popular party game Cards Against Humanity over accusations that Elon Musk’s rocket company trespassed and damaged a plot of land owned by the card company in Texas.
Texas court records indicate that a settlement was finalized last month, just weeks ahead of a jury trial that was slated to begin on November 3. The card maker announced in a statement on Monday that it could not disclose the terms of the settlement, and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment.
Cards Against Humanity, headquartered in Chicago, originally purchased the plot of land in 2017 as part of a publicity stunt opposing former President Donald Trump’s plans for a border wall.
In its lawsuit, Cards Against Humanity claimed that SpaceX treated its property in Cameron County, Texas, as if it belonged to them for at least six months. The lawsuit contended that SpaceX placed construction materials, including gravel and debris, on the land without permission.
During the discovery phase of the case, Cards Against Humanity reports that SpaceX admitted to trespassing. The company noted that pursuing a full trial would have entailed higher costs than the potential settlement amount.
“The upside 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,” the card company stated.
Historically, the land has been maintained in its natural state, with Cards Against Humanity displaying a “no trespassing” sign to deter unauthorized entry. The company was seeking $15 million in damages, citing a loss of vegetation and other issues. They mentioned that around 150,000 people had contributed to the purchase of the land, hoping any settlement would allow them to repay their supporters.
Although they aimed to compensate their fans, they cautioned that the outcome might only result in minimal payouts.
