The court’s decision came after William Dan Moss, who had lived on the ranch for years, contested an eviction order issued by the Garner Heir Group, which claims legal title to the land.
Moss’s legal battle began when his mother’s will, which left the property to others, omitted him. He filed in a Hunt County court, but the judge dismissed his claim. He then sued in a Hopkins County district court over possession, but that case also ended in his defeat.
The Garner Heir Group, represented by attorney Mark Lawrence, maintained that the Mosses never received permission to occupy the land. When the couple refused to vacate, Lawrence filed an eviction suit that the local justice court sided with, awarding possession to the group.
The Sixth Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling, citing Texas law that allows eviction actions against occupants lacking legal permission, even absent a landlord‑tenant relationship. The Mosses’ appeal was dismissed, leaving the 70‑acre ranch under the control of the Garner Heir Group.