So true-- I find it fascinating the lengths people will go to gain a tiny amount of land.  But yet I come across these kinds of feuds taken to Hatfield/McCoy extremes quite frequently-- happens all the time, I guess.  They do tend to have small lots in California, which I think increases the chances of problems between neighbors-- in fact, I recall another property line dispute in San Diego involving big houses on small lots-- see Don't Get Greedy Without Contacting a Professional.  Here in flyover country where land is cheap, our lots are typically big enough that we can find a spot on our own property to park our trash cans.