Smith-Snagg has always denied the charge. She sold the property to Universal Orlando in 1993 for $1 million or $500,000 per acre ($11.48 per sf). Moore and his late wife Savannah didn't get a penny, Moore's lawsuit argues. Mrs. Moore died last year at 96.

Moore's lawyers, who work on a contingency basis, have tried to overturn the land sale in various courts since 1994. This week, Orange Circuit Court Judge Joseph Baker in Orlando may resolve the controversy with a final decision in a non-jury bench trial that began July 1.

At issue is Moore's signature. By law, he is permitted to sign with an X and ask another person to write his name for him below the X mark, lawyers intimate with similar allegations of fraud tell GlobeSt.com.

Universal's lawyers will try to convince the judge Moore signed the deed thinking it was a will. If Baker rules that way, Moore will lose the case since the statute of limitations for fraud has expired, lawyers following the case tell GlobeSt.com.

Moore's lawyers will try to show the judge the signatures on the deed are forgeries. If Baker agrees, Moore wins the case but may lose his two acres anyway.

That's because Universal has been paying the annual taxes on the land since 1993. The total paid to date is $80,000. Moore receives a monthly Social Security check of $600 and would be unable to reimburse Universal immediately without selling the land first.

The annual taxes of $600 zoomed to $8,000 after Universal bought the two acres on Turkey Lake Road in southwest Orlando in 1993. But the property today may not be worth the $1 million Universal paid in 1993, area land appraisers tell GlobeSt.com.

That's because the land formerly sat at Turkey Lake and Wallace roads, a key intersection in Universal's initial expansion plans. Universal has since moved Wallace Road and Moore's house and land today are on a short dead-end street.

The land is still within Universal's 70-acre planned project but not considered as valuable to the theme park as it formerly was, land brokers following the case tell Globe St.com.

Universal officials won't comment on the pending litigation and lawyers for both sides couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline.

Instant Insights /

GlobeSt.com UPDATE: Universal's Bizarre Land Deal Heads for Showdown

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