[WSBARP] Tree Root Issue
Jennifer L White
jen at appletreelaw.com
Tue Jan 17 09:32:43 PST 2023
Melody,
Perhaps your PC can offer something of value to the neighbor to get a peaceful agreement not to touch the tree roots? That would be the quickest, most peaceful and perhaps least expensive way to handle the situation in the long run.
I suppose there isn’t an HOA with rules on the subject?
If the neighbor remains bent on removing the tree roots, then you should write a cease and desist letter and/or file a Declaratory Judgment Action and seek an immediate emergency injunction against cutting the roots. If that is granted, then you can argue all of the cogent responses from your colleagues on this Listserv! An experienced arborist will be a MUST as your expert witness. The case would be in SnoCo and SnoCo is in Division I, so expect to see the opposing party argue the Mustoe decision.
Good Luck!
Jennifer L. White, Esq.
[cid:image001.jpg at 01D92A56.6D5C4D60]
jen at appletreelaw.com<mailto:jen at appletreelaw.com>
2200 S 76th Ave
Yakima, WA 98903
509.225.9813
From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> On Behalf Of Melody Tucker Law
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2023 4:33 PM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] Tree Root Issue
Apparently, Jennifer, that the neighbor is determined to cut the roots up to the property line. But cutting those roots will definitely destabilize the tree itself. I asked about moving the tree (not an inexpensive job) or cutting it and planting another further in from the property line. This is a very old, original growth, VERY big tree. Moving it would be impossible and the owner does not want to cut this 150 ft, high tree! After seeing his photos, I can totally understand his position!
Melody
Melody Claire Tucker
Attorney at Law
WSBA #42096
Melody Tucker Law
P.O. Box 2029
Lynnwood, WA 98036
206-228-4980 Fax: 425-743-5921
website: MelodyTuckerLaw.com
CONFIDENTIALITY: The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication, and the information contained in it, is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and immediately destroy all copies of the original message.
________________________________
From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> on behalf of Jennifer L White <jen at appletreelaw.com<mailto:jen at appletreelaw.com>>
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2023 3:16 PM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] Tree Root Issue
Thanks for sharing – very interesting read for a holiday afternoon!
It’s been the law in WA for over 100 years that you can hack away at any parts of the neighbor’s offending tree that cross your property line without any concern for the tree’s wellbeing. It would be nice to think reasonable neighbors could talk across the branches and figure out a solution satisfactory to both, but alas, that is likely fantasy 😊 Perhaps the tree owner may want to take it down and plant a new one further away from the property line.
Jennifer L. White, Esq.
[cid:image001.jpg at 01D92A56.6D5C4D60]
jen at appletreelaw.com<mailto:jen at appletreelaw.com>
2200 S 76th Ave
Yakima, WA 98903
509.225.9813
From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> On Behalf Of Brian Holtzclaw
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2023 2:33 PM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>>
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] Tree Root Issue
Mustoe v. Ma, 193 Wn. App. 161 (2016)
Division 1 held in that case that a property owner can treat encroaching roots just like encroaching branches
Best regards,
[cid:image002.png at 01D92A56.6D5C4D60]<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttps-253A-252F-252Furldefense.proofpoint.com-252Fv2-252Furl-253Fu-253Dhttps-2D3A-5F-5Fvillagelifehomes.com-5F-2526d-253DDwMFAg-2526c-253DeuGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-2Dv5A-5FCdpgnVfiiMM-2526r-253DkDcM-2DfraYQNOZ1rCslLoMSSRXJQXmQVvRJbE6ymQGho-2526m-253D36-2DUDzqkkK2WhOmeiQQvkU6wW-5FRCq9lTvhkQVPdCCfc-2526s-253DckToARAi4HJWPs-2DQpoFFLEMfho91E-2Dui0clGnXapEoQ-2526e-253D-26data-3D05-257C01-257C-257C846449b5ebfd42cd6d4608daf81948ee-257C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa-257C1-257C0-257C638095084758930897-257CUnknown-257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0-253D-257C3000-257C-257C-257C-26sdata-3D6eEvQVqkh8RF9jz-252F1GM-252BqD3lsjc4pMNf3CIY1bWgtQ8-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMF-g&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=kDcM-fraYQNOZ1rCslLoMSSRXJQXmQVvRJbE6ymQGho&m=Gv6AHO9rc99l_S6mhMVH2cEluu-1S9YEN6drEfWcMWI&s=ZaX2cWJ7sfakfruYF9eSd18kdRcQKSuo4r1jUgEE4JY&e=>
Brian Holtzclaw
General Counsel
C: 425.478.7453 (preferred)
O: 425.678.1471
19020 33rd Ave West | Suite 450<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttps-253A-252F-252Furldefense.proofpoint.com-252Fv2-252Furl-253Fu-253Dhttps-2D3A-5F-5Fwww.google.com-5Fmaps-5Fplace-5F19020-2D2B33rd-2D2BAve-2D2BW-2D2B-2D2523450-2D2C-2D2BLynnwood-2D2C-2D2BWA-2D2B98036-5F-2D4047.8258729-2D2C-2D2D122.2811161-2D2C17z-5Fdata-2D3D-2D213m1-2D214b1-2D214m5-2D213m4-2D211s0x5490056d7406e221-2D3A0x13e34492c8cc791a-2D218m2-2D213d47.8258693-2D214d-2D2D122.2789274-2526d-253DDwMFAg-2526c-253DeuGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-2Dv5A-5FCdpgnVfiiMM-2526r-253DkDcM-2DfraYQNOZ1rCslLoMSSRXJQXmQVvRJbE6ymQGho-2526m-253D36-2DUDzqkkK2WhOmeiQQvkU6wW-5FRCq9lTvhkQVPdCCfc-2526s-253D4-2DFzGROn1VGYdLs9O8son2SSoFaSIZYPgB4Jp-2DoB-2DA8-2526e-253D-26data-3D05-257C01-257C-257C846449b5ebfd42cd6d4608daf81948ee-257C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa-257C1-257C0-257C638095084758930897-257CUnknown-257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0-253D-257C3000-257C-257C-257C-26sdata-3DWeT-252FXVacRa-252FeWkOuG-252F7z4xNcH1h4SR-252B9xU-252B-252FxNAOqU0-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMF-g&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=kDcM-fraYQNOZ1rCslLoMSSRXJQXmQVvRJbE6ymQGho&m=Gv6AHO9rc99l_S6mhMVH2cEluu-1S9YEN6drEfWcMWI&s=tk6GZfiAu1IgUj44TvXnwaKrRVoBMrFr66MAa319bWE&e=>
Lynnwood, WA 98036<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttps-253A-252F-252Furldefense.proofpoint.com-252Fv2-252Furl-253Fu-253Dhttps-2D3A-5F-5Fwww.google.com-5Fmaps-5Fplace-5F19020-2D2B33rd-2D2BAve-2D2BW-2D2B-2D2523450-2D2C-2D2BLynnwood-2D2C-2D2BWA-2D2B98036-5F-2D4047.8258729-2D2C-2D2D122.2811161-2D2C17z-5Fdata-2D3D-2D213m1-2D214b1-2D214m5-2D213m4-2D211s0x5490056d7406e221-2D3A0x13e34492c8cc791a-2D218m2-2D213d47.8258693-2D214d-2D2D122.2789274-2526d-253DDwMFAg-2526c-253DeuGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-2Dv5A-5FCdpgnVfiiMM-2526r-253DkDcM-2DfraYQNOZ1rCslLoMSSRXJQXmQVvRJbE6ymQGho-2526m-253D36-2DUDzqkkK2WhOmeiQQvkU6wW-5FRCq9lTvhkQVPdCCfc-2526s-253D4-2DFzGROn1VGYdLs9O8son2SSoFaSIZYPgB4Jp-2DoB-2DA8-2526e-253D-26data-3D05-257C01-257C-257C846449b5ebfd42cd6d4608daf81948ee-257C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa-257C1-257C0-257C638095084758930897-257CUnknown-257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0-253D-257C3000-257C-257C-257C-26sdata-3DWeT-252FXVacRa-252FeWkOuG-252F7z4xNcH1h4SR-252B9xU-252B-252FxNAOqU0-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMF-g&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=kDcM-fraYQNOZ1rCslLoMSSRXJQXmQVvRJbE6ymQGho&m=Gv6AHO9rc99l_S6mhMVH2cEluu-1S9YEN6drEfWcMWI&s=tk6GZfiAu1IgUj44TvXnwaKrRVoBMrFr66MAa319bWE&e=>
[cid:image003.png at 01D92A56.6D5C4D60]Like Us on Facebook!
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
This e-mail and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipients and contain information that may be confidential or legally privileged. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. Any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of this communication by someone other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com> <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>> On Behalf Of Melody Tucker Law
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2023 1:53 PM
To: wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com<mailto:wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBARP] Tree Root Issue
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Listmates, I have a question for the knowledgeable among you in tree law.
I received a call from a potential client who has property containing numerous large trees. The tree in question in this matter is fully on his own property but some roots do extend onto the neighbor's property, of course. The roots have done no damage, but the neighbor has decided to cut the roots at the property line because he doesn't want them on his side of the fence. The PC is concerned that if those very large roots are cut, it could kill the tree eventually. Even of greater concern is that those are anchoring roots and that tree will no longer be secure and could easily fall onto his house.
The neighbor is determined to cut the roots. PC would like to know what his legal standing is to 1- prohibit the neighbor from cutting the roots, or 2- what his recourse is should the roots be cut and the tree dies or falls onto his home.
All input, information, and citations if available, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
Melody
Melody Claire Tucker
Attorney at Law
WSBA #42096
Melody Tucker Law
P.O. Box 2029
Lynnwood, WA 98036
206-228-4980 Fax: 425-743-5921
website: MelodyTuckerLaw.com
CONFIDENTIALITY: The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication, and the information contained in it, is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and immediately destroy all copies of the original message.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbarp/attachments/20230117/8934e8f2/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 987192 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbarp/attachments/20230117/8934e8f2/image001-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 26242 bytes
Desc: image002.png
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbarp/attachments/20230117/8934e8f2/image002-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 5315 bytes
Desc: image003.png
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/wsbarp/attachments/20230117/8934e8f2/image003-0001.png>
More information about the WSBARP
mailing list