After their tree was cut down without permission, one Redditor appears to have a solid legal claim.
Based on their post in the r/treelaw subreddit, the problem began when a storm caused a branch to fall over into their neighbor's yard and become stuck in their tree.
Instead of taking the Redditor's offer to help cut up the branch, the neighbor called a contractor, who cut down the entire tree.
According to the contractor, "one branch was diseased, [so] the entire tree had to come down." However, no one consulted the owner about it, just the neighbor.
Sadly, the shocked tree owner isn't alone in experiencing poor neighborly treatment of property while away. In another case, a native gardener returned from shopping to see their wild meadow had been mowed. Sometimes, even professional contractors recklessly prune trees, causing unnecessary damage.
With proof, the law should be on the original poster's side. That's why one respondent advised, "Evidence and documentation of everything now. Call someone to estimate the cost of the tree. Lawyer up."
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One commenter remarked, "I once got a $27k settlement when my neighbor decided to remove two mature oaks from my back yard because 'he hated raking his yard.'"
While tree law varies by state, potential compensation for the wrong party may cover the value of the tree, treble damages (three times the value of the tree), restoration costs, and legal fees.
However, losing a tree creates a loss beyond money for the homeowner, as the community also loses. Trees provide privacy by blocking views and noise. Creatures from birds to squirrels nest and forage in trees, boosting local biodiversity.
As some places become too hot to live in — heat stress incidents have doubled in the past 40 years, according to NASA — trees help mitigate the issue by soaking up polluting and heat-trapping carbon dioxide. Their cooling vapors and natural shade can also avoid high AC bills and reduce heat-island effects.
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What is your least favorite lawn chore? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Mowing the grass 🌱 Talking about the climate with family and friends can help everyone get on the same page about the value of trees and native plants.
Understanding what vegetation contributes to a healthy planet may encourage neighbors to be less careless and to work together to protect nature — and to respect property lines.
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