ðə kˈeɪs wʌz ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli θˈɔːt təbi lˈiːkpɹˈuːf fɚðə dᵻfˈɛndənts, fɔːɹ lˈoʊkəl ɹˈiːəl ᵻstˈeɪt lˈɔːz stˈɪpjʊlˌeɪt ðæt ˌɛni pˈɜːsən hˌuː lˈɪvz ɪn ɐ ɹˈɛzᵻdəns fɔːɹ mˈoːɹ ðɐn twˈɛlv jˈɪɹz wɪðˌaʊt ðɪ ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl pɹˈɑːpɚɾi ˈoʊnɚɹ ˈɛksɚsˌaɪzɪŋ ˈoʊnɚʃˌɪp ɹˈaɪts wˈɪl, ɪn ɪfˈɛkt, ˈoʊn ðə pɹˈɑːpɚɾi ɪn kwˈɛstʃən.
The case was originally thought to be leak-proof for the defendants, for local real estate laws stipulate that any person who lives in a residence for more than 12 years without the original property owner exercising ownership rights will, in effect, own the property in question.