The Colvins had owned a 23‑acre parcel on Highway 828 since 2012, while the Joneses bought a one‑acre lot on Linville Fire Tower Road in 2014 – neighbors who shared a decade of cordiality before a 70‑foot strip of timber became contested.
In March 2024, the dispute erupted when the Colvins installed large “NO TRESPASSING” signs along a surveyed line that they claimed was the true boundary. Their neighbors responded by erecting larger signs, flashing high‑intensity lights, and operating loud generators from dusk until dawn. A dead cow was even placed beside the line, a tactic that the Joneses said constituted intimidation.
The trial court, presided over by Judge Monique Babin Clement, found the old downed wire fence to be the legal boundary. She granted the Joneses a permanent injunction, ordered the Colvins to remove all flags, lights, and fencing, and awarded $7,500 in damages to each of the Joneses for a total of $15,000.
On appeal, the Louisiana Second Circuit upheld every element of the trial court’s ruling. The panel, led by Judges Hunter, Marcotte and Ellender, noted that the Colvins had no prior knowledge of the northern boundary and that historical possession by earlier owners had treated the wire fence as the practical line. The court confirmed the damages award and the injunction, emphasizing that the evidence supported the trial court’s factual findings. The next step will involve enforcement of the injunction, with the county sheriff’s office overseeing removal of the disputed signage and equipment.