A Massachusetts couple represented themselves in a dispute over damaged trees and encroachments on their land; they won a $310,000 judgment against their neighbour, and an appeals court upheld it in 2026

• A court dispute between neighbouring property owners in Massachusetts over damaged trees and illegal land encroachments has ended with a $310,000 judgment upheld on appeal, after the affected couple successfully handled their own case without hiring lawyers.
• The ruling by the Massachusetts Appeals Court is a major success for people who represent themselves in court.
• It shows that self-represented property owners can handle complicated land disputes and win large monetary awards against neighbouring property owners.