Property damage

[Antaeres]

Electric company here in SE MI was granted access to my property (no easement) to do a line clearance. The tree that they hacked (with no regard for aethetics) is a 50' 30 yr. old white pine. The damage is excessive. They trimmed off (right to the trunk) about fifteen years worth of branch growth. I do not know for certain that what they did will affect my property value, and it is too soon to determine whether or not the tree will survive. Incidentally, the white pine is MI state tree. Do I have any legal recourse against the power company? Thank you.

 

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, Verdana">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Antaeres:
Electric company here in SE MI was granted access to my property (no easement) to do a line clearance. The tree that they hacked (with no regard for aethetics) is a 50' 30 yr. old white pine. The damage is excessive. They trimmed off (right to the trunk) about fifteen years worth of branch growth. I do not know for certain that what they did will affect my property value, and it is too soon to determine whether or not the tree will survive. Incidentally, the white pine is MI state tree. Do I have any legal recourse against the power company? Thank you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Contact a certified arborist (professional tree person) to inspect the damage, give an assessment, value of the tree before being butchered and value now. If substantial, you could sue the utility company for dimunition of property value. No offense in damaging the state tree unless an endangered species. You could send those mother hackers a certified letter with a photo of the tree, demanding that they hire and pay for the arborist to do the above described tasks.