Land heirs go to Zapata, await judge's decision
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
May 18, 2010
Story Updated:
May 19, 2010
Protestors flood the entrance of the Zapata County court this afternoon demanding justice.
The protestors came from all over the country, and the globe, to await the ruling on whether or not they will be recognized as heirs to a large sum of money from mineral rights, withheld by the state.
The hundreds who packed the entrance to the Zapata County Court House this afternoon say they are ready to be noticed:
"We are the unknown heirs? We are not unknown. There are a thousand of us here today."
And with their voices they told the nation who they are.
"Let the state of Texas and the nation know we, everybody here, are Texas. Our ancestors came and settled and started this great state."
Not too long ago the descendants of Spanish land grant owners nearly got the ruling they are looking for, but the judge at the time was advised by Judge Shannon to vacate the decision.
Today Attorney Eileen Fowler addressed a third judge, Judge Peeples.
"We got our point across that all the actions taken by Judge Shannon were unlawful and we pointed out everything we could to him and I think it went well."
At stake for the descendants is a large sum of money collected as a result of mineral rights.
Fowler has spent over a decade working on the case.
"I've spent 15 years of my life trying to figure out how to get them the money that everybody knows is theirs; it’s there and there's a billion dollars there maybe. We aren't sure how much."
"It's the land, it’s the mineral rights, but really it's justice. It would be a travesty of justice if we had to go to the Supreme Court."
To avoid the crowds, Judge Peeples will submit his decision to Fowler via email Wednesday morning.
No matter the ruling, Fowler and company are seeking state legislation to compensate these families.
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me said on Thursday, Sep 6 at 12:53 AM
first its not government cheese it oil % that go to texas since 100 years ago but in 1960's started actually putting in money for mineral right owners but "texas can't spend it but it can keep interest ! law says because these are spanish land grants "if you sell or get your land stolen like many in south texas and don't discuss mineral under soil those minerals belong to the original grantee no matter how many years ago ! don't hate its the trues we have been declared heir! 2012
101140105Anonymous said on Thursday, May 31 at 6:01 AM
jose vasquez borrego
92318873leonor flores pina said on Saturday, May 19 at 4:30 PM
yes we want what is rightfully ours from our ancestors.
91332175robert said on Thursday, May 12 at 11:38 PM
what is the up date to the landgrands heirs?
66971048pipedream said on Friday, Dec 24 at 12:42 PM
So, what is the latest??? I doubt any money has been paid; it would have been in the news.
57859671blessings & prayers said on Tuesday, Dec 14 at 12:17 PM
The reason you are reading about all this is because of prayers of all involved. Before these people were declared heirs, some would say it was never going to happen.Because of prayer now they await their rightful compensation and blessings that belonged to their ancestors. If you can figure that these were parents of parent that go back many years. what parent would not want their children to hav what was rightfully theirs. So it will happen, and you will read about it
57336324RENE PEREZ said on Thursday, Dec 9 at 2:30 AM
I REMEMBER YEARS AAGO MY FATHER TRIED TO GET ANSWERS ON WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS DUE HIM WITH REGARDS TO THE TEXAS SPANISH LAND GRANT ... HE WAS RAISED IN RANDADO AND KEPT GETTING DEAD ENDS ... HE EVENTUALLY GAVE UP AND TO THIS DAY IS STLL A BIG QUESTION MARK ON OUR FAMILY ... HIS NAME WAS ...HIPLITO RENE PEREZ,SON TO FELICIANA M. AND SON HIPOLITO PEREZ.. MINE IS RENE PEREZ SEND INFO TO 1902 S NORTON AVE INDEPENDENCE,MO64052
57053059someone. said on Monday, Nov 1 at 12:50 AM
well hopefully we get the money soon(before december) and not be unknown heirs cuz we are KNOWN! ..... we have the right and PROOF! and all u haters GTFO. plain and simple.
54898453delagarza/garza said on Monday, Jun 7 at 8:34 PM
In research since i was a little girl my grand mothers being providing prove if the land was stolen or wrongful taken then we the heirs deserve our right justice is justice(what would our lord say,) do whats right the judge legal declared us heirs, he wouldn't of if the prove wasn't there is it lawful to keep what isn't yours
44906424Rolando Treviño lV said on Friday, May 21 at 8:50 AM
It is an absolute relief to finally here some information directly spoken from Ms. Fowler for those Descendents that are to recieve royalties, some for years have tried fighting this and some even for decades. VERY GOOD!!! But lets hope the judge approves and all goes well "LOS PORCIONES"
43670424browns said on Friday, May 21 at 3:09 AM
all latinos ever want is money money money
43654934Houstonian said on Thursday, May 20 at 8:45 PM
More Power to the Heirs! I think they should get what is rightfully thiers. If they have been declared Hiers then whats the hold up. The State of Texas should return whats is owed to them. Where is all the money that supposedly no-one claims?
43640064Great News said on Thursday, May 20 at 3:44 PM
Thats great news to hear that another Judge Peeples has taken over the issue. God willing they rule in favor of the heirs :) These families need JUSTICE
43620579The Truth said on Thursday, May 20 at 10:18 AM
It seems that the ones getting settled ASAP will be the heirs that are already on the verge of courts as in finals closures or last court meets. on the other hand the ones that still need to claim heirship need to work together to get there royalties. that is the legislation they are talking about. so for those that think that its that simple, your wrong you need to at the least declared as primary heirs then we can start talking. but the money is there for the rightfull descendents. - Rodney R.
43592899whatisfair said on Thursday, May 20 at 4:42 AM
The case you're talking about is the Balli case . In a short overview ,it was whether Gilbert Kerlin, a New York lawyer, swindled the Balli family out of mineral rights to land they sold in 1938. The family had held title to the land since the 1700s, when a priest, Padre Nicolas Balli, received a Spanish land grant. I really hope this Zapata case goes the heir's way , but , who has the true titles to the land ( spanish land grants ) . A lot of these families sold their land and a lot of these families bought the land and are not true heir's . This kind of lawsuits was tried once before in the late 40's and early 50's , only to have the lawyer lose the case and the lawyer was the only one to profts from these families . Just remember , back in the late 1800's , their was a fire at the Zapata courtouse in which the orginal land grants were filed and all burned ( how strange right ). The reason I believe it won't happen is because the State of Texas will try to prolong this fight.
43572286chill out said on Wednesday, May 19 at 11:05 PM
A few years ago a similar case was settled giving the heirs of a land grant for the island of padre island money they were owed. If these people are rightful heirs it should be their money. I you complainers were heirs you'd be right with them. If the courts decide in their favor so be it. It's not the state's money its royalty money which should belong to the rightful heirs.
43565994givemeabreak said on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:50 PM
I think that the people in this lawsuit are just money hungry and want to make a quick buck. This is not your land, they are not your minerals, and these land grants were given to your ancestors, not the heirs 200 years later. I know it was wrong that this land was forcefully taken away. If you want the right thing done which is justice, why ask for money? Just let it be known that justice was served. If money is rewarded donate it to a fund or donate it to charity.
43565361Mentally challenged said on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:23 PM
Are we getting money for the caliche,fill dirt, oil and gas, hunting leases and whatever else this land provides? I want my fair share. Where do I sign up?
43564017radar said on Wednesday, May 19 at 9:59 PM
how does the realist know this kind of info in a short time sounds like shannon. fowlers nemsis
43562862Realist said on Wednesday, May 19 at 9:24 PM
Gee whiz, somebody put that Eileen Fowler in charge of my bank account and give me a camera! Every time that woman gets in front of a camera, the dollar figure jumps up by millions! It does not take an accounting wizard to figure out that 1- there were over 3,000 Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in Texas, 2- the Comptroller only has just over $2 billion total in held assets. Now Fowler is claiming that heirs to her piddling number of Spanish Land Grant cases have $1 billion held just for them? So that means all the thousands of other assets held by the Comptroller are worth about a buck-ninety-eight each and all the other billions belong to these “heirs”? In what universe? What a wonderful pyramid - 100 clients for a case go recruit 100 more who go recruit 100 more and no one but Fowler ever sees a dime. But let’s see, 100 x $300 100 x $300 100 x $300 x 10-15 cases - quite a few dimes, eh, Mrs. Fowler?
43561161geeezzzus said on Wednesday, May 19 at 9:15 PM
It looks like someone is giving away government cheese!!
43560726Anonymous said on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:40 PM
has anyone got that email..what did it say?
43555379Anita Leon said on Wednesday, May 19 at 5:25 PM
I have been following this story for 25 years. Finally my baby sisters' in-laws who are Heirs of these mineral rights, finally get the justice and their prayers answered. I am so happy for them. No more disappointments, put yourself in their shoes. Give them what is rightfully theirs.
43548311Marie Salazar said on Wednesday, May 19 at 4:38 PM
Thank you Judge Peeples. It has been over 20 years past due for these Heirs, they have finally seen justice and their prayers have been answered. No more disappointments! Give them what is rightfully theirs.
43545479radar said on Wednesday, May 19 at 4:07 PM
if not us who
43543404JOANNAC said on Wednesday, May 19 at 3:36 PM
IT'S A GO!
43541134Concern D. said on Wednesday, May 19 at 2:12 PM
Any info on the ruling?
43534979Heir to one of the landgrants said on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:16 PM
I truly believe that the people should get the money that is rightfully theirs. The State of Texas shouldn't be keeping what is not theirs. The money needs to be returned as soon as possible and if we need to go to the Supreme court--WE WILL! We will never give up!
43530389TOMASD said on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:16 PM
How does Mexico deal with this issue?
43530324Heir to one of the grants said on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:13 PM
I feel that the people should get what they deserve. They should get the money from the mineral rights. This money is theirs and they have waited long enough. The state of Texas should not be withholding this money since it belongs to the rightful heirs.
43530102hotdog said on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:07 PM
just stop the corrupttion in texas an give the people the judgment! theyve proven everything that they had to prove and now its public!
43529581whatisfair said on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:05 PM
Dream on ... not going to happen .
43529384Jeff said on Wednesday, May 19 at 12:24 PM
What minerals are you talking about?
43525871Javier G. said on Wednesday, May 19 at 9:31 AM
Maybe Gene Belmares can make a private trip by himself to see what the best deal he can make for the people of, I mean, his buds.
43511421Scott said on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:45 AM
If the state and the oil companies have performed due diligence in their record keeping, it should be simple enough to prove, or disprove heirship.
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