SpaceX has settled a lawsuit brought by Cards Against Humanity in September, ending a quirky Texas land dispute between the rocket maker and the Chicago-based game company known for its dark humor.
Texas court records show the settlement was reached last month, just ahead of a Nov. 3 jury trial. Terms weren’t disclosed, and neither SpaceX nor its attorney responded to requests for comment, according to the Associated Press, which first reported the development.
The dispute centered on a patch of land in Cameron County, at the southern tip of Texas near SpaceX’s Starbase launch site. Cards Against Humanity presumably paid more than $2 million for the parcel in 2017 as part of a plan to send a message of opposition to then-President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. The company raised money from 150,000 fans who each chipped in $15 to “save America’s future” by purchasing and preserving the land.
In its lawsuit, the card company claimed SpaceX encroached on its property for at least six months, using it as a dumping ground for gravel, debris and other construction materials as the company expanded its rocket testing operations nearby. Court filings show SpaceX admitted to trespassing during discovery, though the extent of the damage was disputed.
Cards Against Humanity had sought $15 million in damages, citing environmental harm and loss of vegetation.
While the settlement amount remains confidential, the card company told the outlet it likely wouldn’t have recovered much even if it won at trial.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
The company hinted that proceeds from the settlement could help repay donors, though it downplayed expectations.
“Were we hoping to be able to pay all our fans? Sure. But we did warn them they would ‘probably only be able to get like $2 or most likely nothing,’” it said.
The agreement closes another chapter in SpaceX’s ongoing property disputes in South Texas, where rapid expansion around Starbase has clashed with locals.
— Eric Weilbacher
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