In a lawsuit between a Nicasio couple and the owners of Devil’s Gulch Ranch over the use of a private road and an easement from 1866, a county judge finalized a decision three weeks ago that largely favors the ranch, preserving access to the only road that leads to Devil’s Gulch. Mark and Miriam Pasternak can continue to use the road for most of their activities, including agricultural operations and a summer camp, but they can no longer hold a large summer event known as Outstanding in the Field. In the lawsuit, which went to trial last year, neighbors Joseph and Kathleen Jolson, who live on the Road to Ranches, alleged that the Pasternaks didn’t have a valid easement to the Jolsons’ portion of the road, contesting the validity of an easement from 1866. Even if the easement were valid, the Jolsons argued, the Pasternaks overburdened it with too many vehicle trips. If the Jolsons had prevailed, it would have cut off the only existing road to the ranch property. But Judge Roy Chernus mostly dismissed their complaints, writing in his April 29 decision that the vast majority of the uses were reasonable, and only agreeing that the outstanding events pose too great a burden. Mr. Pasternak said last week that while giving up the event is a lost opportunity to promote Devil’s Gulch and other ranches and farms in West Marin, he had no plans to appeal, given that Judge Chernus largely ruled in his favor. “Disputes between neighbors are frequently difficult. The court hopes that parties (and their other neighbors) can now put the previous disputes to rest and cooperatively work together so that the beautiful property where they all live may be both used in preserved into the future,” he wrote.