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Larry “Wil” Wilkins is a self-described “mountain man” and military veteran with PTSD. He bought his home in rural Montana so he could enjoy fishing, blacksmithing, and the mountain vistas in peace and quiet.
His property came with an easement allowing the U.S. Forest Service to maintain and use a dirt road for limited purposes, particularly logging.
One day in 2006, out of nowhere, the Forest Service posted a sign that changed everything: The road was now open to the public.
A years-long nightmare ensued, starting with traffic, noise, trespassing, and property damage. Someone even shot Wil’s cat. (The cat survived.)
When Wil questioned the easement’s unilateral change, the government brushed him off with excuses and empty promises.
And when Wil sued, the courts brushed him off with legal hurdles. The government said Wil was too late—a 12-year statute of limitations had come and gone. Wil disagrees, but when the government and a private citizen disagree about facts in a property rights case, the government automatically wins.
Wil’s been denied his day in court—until now.
Please join us on November 18 for a sneak preview of PLF’s 18th Supreme Court case, set for November 30, and a discussion of what it could mean for other conflicts over access to public lands in the West. Wil’s legal team will break down Wilkins v. USA and its role in PLF’s broader fight to elevate property rights from “second-class” status among our Constitution’s other celebrated liberties.
