Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro delivers his first budget address to a joint session of the state House and Senate on March 7, 2023 (Credit: Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star).
A legal dispute has risen between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his neighbors in Abington Township over a security fence at the governor’s Montgomery County home, according to a report.
The neighbors, Jeremy and Simone Mock, filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, claiming the Shapiros illegally occupied part of their yard to install an eight-foot fence as part of security upgrades following an April arson attack on the governor’s Harrisburg residence. The Mocks argue that this encroachment is an “outrageous abuse of power” and have asked a federal judge to order the Shapiros off the property.
According to the article, the Shapiro's quickly filed a countersuit in Montgomery County Court, asserting that they have legally owned the disputed portion of land for years under Pennsylvania’s adverse possession law, having lived on their Montgomery County property for 23 years. According to the governor’s complaint, a 2025 land survey revealed that about 2,900 square feet of the property the Mock's now claim had been used by the Shapiro's for over two decades. The couple maintains that they attempted to purchase the land from the Mocks, but negotiations fell through, leading to the current dispute.
The neighbors’ lawsuit also alleges that the Shapiros planted trees and other plants on their property, flew drones over the area, threatened tree removal, and interfered with contractors, with state police sometimes instructing the Mocks to vacate the disputed zone. The Shapiros deny wrongdoing and are seeking a legal declaration that they are the rightful owners of the land.
The dispute comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the use of taxpayer dollars for security upgrades at the governor’s personal residence. State Police spent at least $1 million on improvements to the Montgomery County home, in addition to over $32 million in renovations to the Harrisburg governor’s mansion. Republican lawmakers have subpoenaed Shapiro for records of how these funds were spent, citing concerns over transparency.
The Shapiros’ heightened security follows multiple threats to their safety, including the April firebombing at the governor’s mansion and recent incidents such as threatening messages sent to the governor’s office. Spokespersons for Shapiro emphasized the governor’s commitment to his family’s safety while dismissing the lawsuit as politically motivated.
