{
  "id": 13792288,
  "title": "Texas family ends 8-year fight over 65,000-acre ranch worth at least $60m",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/texas-family-ends-8-year-fight-over-65-000-acre-ranch-worth-at-least",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T19:26:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/a-texas-family-spent-nearly-eight-years-fighting-over-the-65000-acre-brite-ranch-worth-at-least-60-million-days-before-trial-the-heirs-agreed-to-divide-the-historic-property-into-four-pieces/articleshow/134864462.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A bitter family dispute over one of West Texas's most historic ranches has reached an unexpected agreement, with the heirs deciding to divide the expansive property instead of forcing a sale of the entire estate. The 65,000-acre Brite Ranch, valued at an estimated $60 million or more, has been a significant part of Presidio County's history. The Big Bend Sentinel reported the agreement on October 8, 2026, just before a jury trial was to begin.\n\nThe settlement involves four heirs - Jim White, his brother Mac White, their sister Hester Ann White, and Geoffrey Connor, who is the adopted son of Mac and the late Beau White. Under the proposed plan, the ranch will be split into four portions, each going to one of the heirs. Hester Ann, who initially opposed dividing the property and sought a court-ordered sale, has now agreed to the division.\n\nThe source notes that Jim, Mac, and Connor have requested the district judge to retain the case as a bench trial, potentially allowing the court to adjust the land allocation. They argue that Hester Ann did not contribute to certain ranch expenses and court-related costs. The judge has not yet ruled on this request.\n\nThe conflict began in 2018 when Mac and Beau accused their brother Jim of breaching his fiduciary duties. They claimed Jim failed to distribute income fairly and made decisions that benefited himself and family members working on the property. A jury trial in 2023 resulted in a judgment removing Jim as trustee, awarding damages, and dividing the family trust into separate trusts. Jim and his supporters challenged the decision, leading to a reversal by the Eighth Court of Appeals in El Paso in December 2024. This ruling revived Jim's position in the dispute and prolonged the uncertainty surrounding the ranch's future.\n\nThe Brite Ranch, established by Lucas Charles Brite in the late 19th century, has been a major ranching enterprise in the Big Bend region of Texas. Its history includes a violent attack in 1917, known as the Brite Ranch raid, and a retaliatory massacre of Mexican and Mexican American men and boys by Texas Rangers. For generations, the Brite family played a prominent role in the civic and political life of Presidio County, making the ranch a central part of their family's history and legacy.",
  "summary": "After years of contention, the heirs of the historic Brite Ranch have finally reached an agreement to split the vast 65,000-acre estate. This ranch, steeped in family history, has faced scrutiny from a court case launched in 2018 that revealed turmoil over trust management and financial allocation. Though lingering issues persist, this resolution is a significant step toward preserving the ranch…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}