Back in 1983 and 1984, Carol Landi popularized an argument that the land patent was the highest and best form of title and that by updating the patent in your own name, you could defeat any mortgages. This contention violated many principles of real property and when Carol started trying to get patents for most of the land in California brought up into her own name, she went to jail.

Cases lost to this argument

Landi v. Phelps, 740 F.2d 710 (9th Cir. 1984)
Sui v. Landi, 209 Cal.Rptr. 449 (Cal.App. 1 Dist. 1985)
Hilgeford v. People\'s Bank, 607 F.Supp. 536 (N.D.Ind. 1985)
Nixon v. Individual Head of St. Joseph Mtg. Co., 612 F.Supp. 253 (N.D. Ind. 1985)
Nixon v. Phillipoff, 615 F.Supp. 890 (N.D. Ind. 1985)
Wisconsin v. Glick, 782 F.2d 670 (7th Cir. 1986)
Britt v. Federal Land Bank Ass\'n. of St. Louis, 505 N.E.2d 387 (Ill. App. 1987)