Squatter Demands $190,000 From Homeowner

A squatter in Georgia recently demanded $190,000 from a landowner in response to eviction attempts.

On Wednesday, David Morris, an Atlanta property owner, said on Fox & Friends that before the COVID-19 pandemic, he ran a non-profit and allowed squatters to live on his nine acres of land for free, but he recently attempted to have these individuals evicted.

When Morris tried to have them removed, the city of Atlanta told him that there was an eviction moratorium. In response to his attempts to evict the individuals, one of the squatters filed a $190,000 counterclaim against him. However, the individual never showed up to court, and the claim was dismissed.

"I've been buying and selling real estate in Atlanta for 30 years and I've gone through the eviction process many, many times," Morris told co-host Steve Doocy. "Now the Marshals will call us. I've told the people living on the land, there's about eight of them right now, I've said 'Guys, pack up, get ready, the Marshals are coming out.'"

Morris said that he's spent $10,000 on cleanup crews across his property as he continues his eviction attempts.

Newsweek reached out to Morris's attorney, David Perrie, via his website for comment.

The context:

Over the past several weeks, there have been different incidents involving squatters and attempts to have them evicted from homes they do not own.

Squatters' rights is a term used to refer to "adverse possession" laws, which permit someone to take ownership of something, most commonly a piece of real estate, that they do not officially own by possessing or living in it for a set amount of time, or "squatting" in it.

Many states, like California and Washington, altered their property laws during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing people to stay in their rental properties longer even if they could not make monthly payments.

What we know:

While speaking with WAGA-TV in Atlanta, Morris said that following the dismissal of the counterclaim filed against him, he expects to be given another 30 days until the Marshals call again about possible evictions.

"That was dismissed, and that counterclaim, because they didn't show up in court. So, it will take, I am predicting, another 30 days before the marshals will call me to schedule a time for me to have five people here to move everything from there to the street," he told the news station. "I did get writ of possession on Friday."

Views:

On Wednesday, WSB-TV in Atlanta reported that the Georgia state House and Senate passed a bill relating to squatting laws, seeking to charge squatters with trespassing.

"A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal trespass, so as to include when a person enters a land or premises for purposes of residing on such land or premises; to provide a short title; to provide for a definition; to provide for a violation and penalty," the bill summary says.

Georgia State Senator Ed Setzler, who co-sponsored the bill, told the news station that squatters "are weaponizing procedural processes to keep from having accountability."

"This just streamlines both the landlord's rights and the ability of the accused to get clarity and justice so it can be adjudicated actively and not be drug out over the course of months in the courts," he said.

What's next:

While waiting for the individuals on his property to be evicted, Morris told WAGA-TV that he was planning to build security around his land to stop any possible newcomers.

"We're going to build just a big fence here and a gate, and put no trespassing signs. I'm not going to build it until all of the tenants are out," Morris told the news station. "You know, start getting this place cleaned up."

Update 3/27/24, 7:51 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 3/27/24, 8:29 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.