Legal Definitions - blank bar

The term blank bar refers to a historical legal maneuver used in trespasslawsuits.

In the past, when a person (the plaintiff) sued another party (the defendant) for trespass—meaning unauthorized entry onto their land or interference with their property—the defendant could sometimes file a "blank bar" plea. The purpose of this plea was to compel the plaintiff to provide much more specific details about the exact location where the alleged trespass occurred. Essentially, the defendant was asking, "You claim I trespassed, but you haven't told me precisely where on your property this happened, which makes it difficult for me to prepare my defense."

Here are a few examples illustrating how a blank bar plea might have been used:

• Scenario: Agricultural Land Dispute

  Imagine a large farming estate, "Green Acres," owned by Mr. Henderson. He files a lawsuit against his neighbor, Ms. Davies, claiming she repeatedly trespassed onto his property with her livestock. However, Mr. Henderson's initial complaint simply states that Ms. Davies's cows were "on Green Acres." Ms. Davies, knowing her property borders a vast portion of Green Acres and that her cows sometimes wander near the boundary, could interpose a blank bar plea. This would force Mr. Henderson to specify the exact fields, pastures, or sections of his land where the alleged trespass occurred, allowing Ms. Davies to investigate her fencing, check her livestock's movements, or provide evidence that her animals were on her own land or a shared easement.

• Scenario: Construction Project Boundary Dispute

  Consider a construction company, "BuildRight Inc.," working on a new development. An adjacent landowner, Ms. Chen, sues BuildRight Inc., alleging that their heavy machinery trespassed onto her property, causing damage. Ms. Chen's initial legal filing vaguely states that "BuildRight Inc.'s equipment entered my land." BuildRight Inc. operates a large site with many vehicles and needs precise information to determine if an error occurred, if a specific piece of equipment strayed, or if Ms. Chen's property lines are being misinterpreted. By filing a blank bar plea, BuildRight Inc. would compel Ms. Chen to identify the specific coordinates, landmarks, or sections of her property where the alleged trespass took place, enabling the company to review their site plans, GPS logs, and worker testimonies accurately.

• Scenario: Recreational Land Use

  Suppose Mr. Thompson, a keen hiker, is accused by a private landowner, Mrs. Miller, of trespassing while walking in a wooded area. Mrs. Miller's complaint broadly states that Mr. Thompson was "on my private forest land." Mr. Thompson believes he was on a public trail or an area where he had permission to be. To properly defend himself, he needs to know the exact path or location Mrs. Miller is referring to. He could use a blank bar plea to require Mrs. Miller to pinpoint the specific part of her extensive forest where she alleges the trespass occurred. This specificity would allow Mr. Thompson to consult maps, recall his route, or gather evidence to demonstrate he was not on Mrs. Miller's private property at the specified location.