Dead guy wins $4.2 million

Jun 12th, 2008 by cyberdouche

A late rancher recently became a whole lot richer. Because of water. How the hell does that happen? Let me tell you.

A federal judge decided that the water rights–thse are these things we have to deal with in the west because there’s not much water so it becomes about money wherever there actually is water, even if it’s water that shouldn’t be there in the first place–taken from a rancher that has since died were taken wrongfully. So, his estate will collect $4.2 miilion. From you and me.

The U.S. Forest Service will have to pay the judgment, which sucks. And as if that’s not enough, the dead guy’s lawyer estimates interest at an additional $4.4 million. No doubt we’ll all be paying at least a portion of that as well, donchaknow.

The best part of all of this is that the rancher was part of the only actual anarchist group ever to have been able to organize and do something–the Sagebrush Rebellion. They were once held as heroes in these parts to some people, but have pretty much disappeared. We hope.

So, to summarize: a guy got his water rights rippped, died, and then won a lawsuit to the tune of a possible $8.6 million. Oh, and he was one of those guys who thought the government ought to be collectively shot. Fuck I love Nevada.

Late rancher wins dispute: Forest Service ordered to pay $4.2M for ‘taking’ of water rights