Cards Against Humanity sues SpaceX for $15M over property damage
Cards Against Humanity, the company behind the popular card game of the same name, has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX. The suit alleges that Elon Musk's space exploration company trespassed on and damaged its property in Texas. The company is seeking $15 million in damages from SpaceX, for using its "pristine vacant property" in Cameron County without permission for approximately six months.
Property acquired as part of a stunt
Cards Against Humanity purchased the property in question back in 2017, as part of a stunt to hinder former President Donald Trump's border wall construction project. The lawsuit states that SpaceX has since bought "many of the vacant lots" surrounding this property and initiated construction of "large modern-looking buildings," altering the area's dynamics and causing damage to Cards Against Humanity's land.
SpaceX's construction activities allegedly damaged the property
The lawsuit further alleges that SpaceX's construction activities, including clearing vegetation and compacting soil for parking, have not only damaged the property but also negatively impacted Cards Against Humanity's relationship with its customers. The company claims these actions by SpaceX have harmed its "most precious asset in the form of its current relationship and the prospective relationship in the future" with its customers.
The land purchase was crowdfunded
The 2017 land purchase by Cards Against Humanity was a crowdfunded initiative, with 150,000 supporters contributing $15 each. The company maintains that this is indicative of its broader relationship with its customers and supporters. The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX's alleged trespassing has damaged this relationship by creating an impression of association between the two entities.
SpaceX's troubled relationships with other neighbors
According to Reuters, Cards Against Humanity is not the only neighbor experiencing issues with SpaceX. Residents of Boca Chica, a small village that SpaceX has tried to rename Starbase, have reported similar incidents. One resident claimed that SpaceX workers removed a sign and a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe from their town.
Cards Against Humanity rejects SpaceX's offer to buy property
Cards Against Humanity alleges that after discovering SpaceX's activities on their land, they were given a 12-hour ultimatum to accept an offer for less than half of their land's value. The company rejected this offer and decided to take legal action against SpaceX. In an email sent to around 150,000 Cards Against Humanity Saves America donors, the company described how Musk "snuck up on us from behind and completely f—-d your land with gravel, tractors, and space garbage."
