Tech Moguls Accused of Using Unfair Tactics to Acquire Land for Secret City
Landowners in California have accused Flannery Associates LLC, a Silicon Valley-backed company, of using unfair and coercive tactics to force them to sell their land for the development of a sustainable city called California Forever. The allegations include pitting family members against each other, evicting farmers, terminating leases, and misleading landowners. Flannery, backed by prominent tech moguls, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the farmers conspired to inflate the value of their land. The company has spent $800 million to become the area's largest landowner and is seeking $510 million in damages. The project has faced criticism for its lack of transparency.