Neighbor butchered the tree

[FarmerJ]

By chance do you have any pictures of the tree when it was in tact? its possible that if you did it would give a judge a before and after view.

 

[Yulia Getmanenko]

Taking a chainsaw onto your property to “trim” your tree is a clear violation of the law. It was smart of you to take a video of your neighbor climbing over the fence from your property to his.

If you have the time to post back later, I would be interested in hearing what the arborist’s assessment is on the tree damage.

The damage is quite excessive and unrepairable.

 

[quincy]

The damage is quite excessive and unrepairable.

I’m sorry to hear that.

I hope you can recover from your neighbor all of the costs for a replacement tree, plus your costs in having an arborist out to evaluate the condition of the tree.

You can file a small claims suit against your neighbor if, after you present the neighbor with your receipts and demand payment, the neighbor refuses to pay.

 

[not2cleverRed]

The damage is quite excessive and unrepairable.

I was just thinking, given how dismissive the responding officer was, did they even file a proper report?

Couldn't hurt to verify.

I'm concerned that this bizarre behavior may escalate, so do everything you can to document this.

 

[quincy]

I was just thinking, given how dismissive the responding officer was, did they even file a proper report?

Couldn't hurt to verify.

I'm concerned that this bizarre behavior may escalate, so do everything you can to document this.

I agree that it is puzzling that the police appear to have done nothing - although Yulia does say there is “a case open” with the police. If the tree is as damaged as Yulia says, that’s definitely vandalism.

Maybe Yulia should just jump right to a lawsuit. That might be the best way to get the neighbor’s attention.

 

[adjusterjack]

The officers said it would be tricky to press charges on trespassing

That's just laziness.

 

[quincy]

That's just laziness.

The easier charge would, admittedly, be vandalism.