Disputes

Expensive and unpredictable costs of litigation can be devastating when they occur. In the experience of LUAF members, the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) and Attorney General’s Office used over $10 million tax-payer dollars to force falsely accused farmers and ranchers to prove themselves innocent of fraud. If you are reading this because you are considering a conservation easement think very carefully about your ability to withstand a legal claim made by your land trust. Land trusts have thought very carefully for a very long time about this possibility and in response have crafted their own “insurance” group to cover their legal costs…..as a landowner, you will be on your own. As of 2017 Terrafirma had almost $5 million in net assets with which to defend it’s clients. (see tax documents below)

Terrafirma Risk Retention Group is a charitable risk pool owned by participating land trusts that insures its members against legal costs

2015-Terrafirma

2016-Terrafirma

2017-Terrafirm