Gov. Shapiro Seeks Dismissal Of Abington Land Dispute Suit: Report

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Gov. Josh Shapiro is asking a judge to dismiss a land dispute lawsuit involving his home, according to a report.

In February, Shapiro's neighbors filed a federal lawsuit against the governor, his wife, and the Pennsylvania State Police, accusing them of unlawfully claiming ownership of the neighbors’ property.

Last week, the governor asked a U.S. district judge to dismiss the lawsuit, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The lawsuit was filed by Jeremy and Simone Mock, a husband and wife who share a common property boundary with the governor’s township home. Shapiro and his wife, Lori, then filed a countersuit.

The lawsuit centers around a security fence, with the couple stating that Shapiro's property occupies part of the Mock's yard.

The Pennsylvania State Police are included in the lawsuit because they provide security at the property located in the township's Jenkintown section.

In early July, the Shapiros met in person with the Mocks about the construction of an eight-foot security fence on the Mock Property near the common boundary of the Mock Property and the Shapiro Property, the lawsuit states.

After that initial meeting, an attorney for the Shapiros emailed the Mocks stating that the Shapiros would be interested in purchasing a portion of the Mock Property adjacent to the common boundary line for the construction of this fence.

The parties proposed a lease agreement whereby the Shapiros would lease the same portion of the Mock Property that the Shapiros offered to purchase, the lawsuit states.

For several weeks, the Mocks, through counsel, engaged a good-faith negotiation toward a lease with the Shapiros. However, the parties were unable to reach an agreement for a lease.