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 on and damaged a plot of land held by the card company in Texas.
Texas court records reveal that a settlement was reached in the case last month, just weeks before a jury trial was set to begin on November 3. Cards Against Humanity announced the settlement in a statement on Monday but declined to disclose the terms, while SpaceX has not commented on the matter.
Founded in Chicago, Cards Against Humanity purchased the plot of land in 2017 as a publicity stunt to oppose President Donald Trump’s border wall initiative.
In its lawsuit, the company claimed that SpaceX had treated its property, located in Cameron County in southern Texas, as its own for at least six months, placing construction materials such as gravel and debris without permission.
During the discovery process of the case, Cards Against Humanity stated that SpaceX acknowledged the trespassing by admitting to it. The card game company indicated that the costs associated with a trial would outweigh any potential financial wins.
One positive outcome of the settlement for Cards Against Humanity is the removal of SpaceX's construction equipment from their land, allowing them to collaborate with a local landscaping company to restore the plot to its natural state, which the company described as being 'devoid of space garbage and pointless border walls.'
The company previously revealed that 150,000 individuals contributed $15 each to assist in acquiring the land, and they had anticipated using settlement proceeds to reimburse the contributors. However, they also cautioned that donors would likely only see a minimal return, if any.
Over the years, Cards Against Humanity has maintained the land in its natural state and has displayed a 'no trespassing' sign to prevent unauthorized access. They initially sought $15 million in damages, citing a loss of vegetation among other factors.
As a result of the settlement, while they hoped to compensate their fans, the company warned donors that they might only receive an estimated $2 or possibly nothing.
