A New York family owned half of a private road, but a fish and game club maintained it for decades; what did the court decide?

The New York Court of Appeals ruled on October 22, 2026 in a property dispute. The case issue was between the Genesee County Fish and Game Protective Association and neighbouring landowners Capri and William Dix. The court upheld the lower court's decision. It granted the association ownership of the eastern hall of Godfrey's Pond Road. The decision was a 5-2 ruling. Five judges supported the association and two did not. The association had originally owned only the western half of the private road. The eastern half belonged to the Dix family and its predecessors. The court concluded that the association had established ownership through adverse possession because it had maintained and controlled the entire road for decades, according to details of the case available on Justia.

Who was involved in the case?

The Genesee County Fish and Game Protective Association is a private conservation and recreational organisation incorporated in 1909. It owns approximately 200 acres of land in Genesee County.

Capri Dix is a former member of the association. She and her husband own an adjoining property measuring around 45 acres.


Their properties are separated by Godfrey's Pond Road, a private two-lane road.

What happened in the dispute?

Everything started when the Dix family reportedly became concerned that club members were entering their property without consent. The matter became very serious in 2021. Tree trunks across the eastern half of Godfrey's Pond Road were placed by the members of the family. The aim was to prevent the association from using that section as it had done before. Tensions escalated when an encounter between the two sides required an intervention from the police.

Earlier, the club had offered to purchase the family's half of the road. That proposal was rejected. The association then had to go to court as the matter was not resolved.

What did New York's highest court decide at last?

In a lower court, the association initially won its case. Later, an appeal court also ruled in the club's favour.

The New York Court of Appeals then upheld the earlier decision. It ruled that the association had established its ownership claim.