George Lucas, the mastermind behind the Star Wars franchise, has recently embarked on another battle, this time in the legal realm. According to a San Francisco Gate article, the famed director filed a lawsuit in May against the heirs of his deceased neighbors and the town of San Anselmo to protect a strip of land he uses as a driveway for his sprawling Skywalker Ranch property in Marin County.
Lucas alleges that he has been using the land since around 1990, when he graded the driveway, which he later paved in 2021. It has been used exclusively by him or by people authorized by him. His attorney, Diego Flores, told SFGATE that they were taking this procedural action to clean up century-old surveying errors, reflecting the reality of use and ownership on the ground.
Furthermore, as The Real Deal noted, Lucas has named four deceased neighbors and the town of San Anselmo in the suit because he believes those neighbors could have been granted an easement over a portion of the strip of land that includes the driveway. The complaint also argues that two other deceased neighbors “may have had an interest in the strip.”
This is not the first time Lucas has faced disputes with San Anselmo and its residents. In 2020, he sued the town and a family that used to own his home to clear up a discrepancy over a property line near his house. Additionally, in 2019, Skywalker Properties fought against the Nicasio Land Owners Association over a proposed 624-acre vineyard near Skywalker Ranch, as the association claimed it would be an eyesore and were prepared to go to court if needed.
San Anselmo Town Manager David Donery informed the Mercury News that the town council will meet to discuss the matter and determine whether a disclaimer of interest should be filed. Despite the ongoing legal conflicts, it seems the Force is still strong with George Lucas as he continues to protect his real estate empire.
