If they had a logger come in and do the work, they are on the hook too: they are supposed to do their due diligence on where they harvest & who owns it.
That would depend on any contract that may have been signed between harvester and supposed land owner. Many put those landline resposibilities in writing.
I'm not a legal expert in any way but I feel like that doesn't absolve the harvester from liability- but it would make a stronger case for them to hold the landowner/contractee liable in a separate civil case?
They did have logger do part of the work- But they did the part where they cut into property line, Which tells me they knew what they were doing and its not just stupidity. The logger may become part of it as the timber may have went with him after landowner fell the trees....Thanks for the reply!
Don’t have a suggestion but please pursue to the full extent. There’s too many folks who do this type of thing and as a largish land owner I’m super vigilant as well
I have and they said they could handle it and prosecute, But also said that it only covers timber value as my restitution verses going with private forester and an attorney could cover things like land damage, loss of privacy, loss of investment in the affected area.
Its my neighbors that did this, without a survey and its probably 2+ acres of mature trees along with a lot of smaller trees as well. While prosecuting would give some satisfaction, I still have to live next door to these people and really just want to be made whole again....and maybe enough extra $$ to build a billboard in the view line they cut my trees for...lol
Gives some rough amount you MAY be entitled to. There are a few categories to pursue damages. One example is to Go out and measure the stumps, multiply and see if it’s a ballpark dollar amount you want to pursue. It’s possible to get 3x the value of the trees IF there is willful ignorance of the property line. Eg. Your boundary is marked, the logger was told where to harvest and they blatantly went over the line.
If it’s a few thousand $, that sucks, but you probably won’t make that back in legal costs. 10s of 1000s is another story.
I have nothing useful to add. But just a general support. What a bunch of m*****f*****s to cut your mature trees for a ****ing view! I hope you get your satisfaction both with charges and whatever a lawyer can get for you. Best of luck!
I would just call a big law firm in Portland (like Drummond Woodsum) and ask. They either do it (and are probably very good if they do) or know who might.
I asked chatGPT for you and it suggested a few names, I can't personally vouch for any of this. Good luck!
Thanks, I really do appreciate it. I've read about this happening for years but never thought I would be one in this position- Its honestly crazy what people feel entitled to do. Trust no one I guess...And I will block that view one way or another ;)
They sound like it....BUT From what I understand, Legal fees should be recoverable in a civil suit for timber theft especially if it was done intentionally.
i work as an apprentice forester (under a licensed one) and i did the field work for a timber trespass case. in most cases a forester will be counting stumps of trees cut down to 2" and identifying the types. the tally get puts through an equation based on its size and type to calculate a likely $ harvested, and then a multiplier is applied as part of the penalty.
you may be billed by the hour for the work, and loggers should or may have insurance for these scenarios. i did the trespass field work back in february 24 and it is still ongoing for my boss.
I get that sentiment...The thing people don't get is this- If some random criminal breaks into my house and steals my TV I can go buy a new TV and I am whole again.
I won't live long enough to see my land look the way it did before this happened, I can't go buy some new trees- and I have to see the people who did it probably for rest of my life.... It's sickening.
We get it. You think stealing from individuals is okay. Maybe in your circles, but we're about working class solidarity around here. If you're going to steal, steal from corporations. If you're going to steal from people, you get what you get. Sorry you think that I'm the problem in that equation. OP This guy is probably your thief.
If they had a logger come in and do the work, they are on the hook too: they are supposed to do their due diligence on where they harvest & who owns it.
That would depend on any contract that may have been signed between harvester and supposed land owner. Many put those landline resposibilities in writing.
I'm not a legal expert in any way but I feel like that doesn't absolve the harvester from liability- but it would make a stronger case for them to hold the landowner/contractee liable in a separate civil case?
They did have logger do part of the work- But they did the part where they cut into property line, Which tells me they knew what they were doing and its not just stupidity. The logger may become part of it as the timber may have went with him after landowner fell the trees....Thanks for the reply!
Have you contacted a Forest Ranger? Timber theft is their ballpark, and Rangers take it very seriously.
I have but need someone I can personally hire if we go civil route.
Try PC Hoag in Tamworth NH. He did some case consulting at one point.
Thanks, I hadn't even thought about arborists doing this type work as well.
Head on over to r/treelaw
Thank you, I did cross post this there.
Don’t have a suggestion but please pursue to the full extent. There’s too many folks who do this type of thing and as a largish land owner I’m super vigilant as well
Forest rangers will take care of that. Have you talked to them yet?
I have and they said they could handle it and prosecute, But also said that it only covers timber value as my restitution verses going with private forester and an attorney could cover things like land damage, loss of privacy, loss of investment in the affected area.
Its my neighbors that did this, without a survey and its probably 2+ acres of mature trees along with a lot of smaller trees as well. While prosecuting would give some satisfaction, I still have to live next door to these people and really just want to be made whole again....and maybe enough extra $$ to build a billboard in the view line they cut my trees for...lol
See: New England Tree Law
Gives some rough amount you MAY be entitled to. There are a few categories to pursue damages. One example is to Go out and measure the stumps, multiply and see if it’s a ballpark dollar amount you want to pursue. It’s possible to get 3x the value of the trees IF there is willful ignorance of the property line. Eg. Your boundary is marked, the logger was told where to harvest and they blatantly went over the line.
If it’s a few thousand $, that sucks, but you probably won’t make that back in legal costs. 10s of 1000s is another story.
I have nothing useful to add. But just a general support. What a bunch of m*****f*****s to cut your mature trees for a ****ing view! I hope you get your satisfaction both with charges and whatever a lawyer can get for you. Best of luck!
I would just call a big law firm in Portland (like Drummond Woodsum) and ask. They either do it (and are probably very good if they do) or know who might.
I asked chatGPT for you and it suggested a few names, I can't personally vouch for any of this. Good luck!
https://chatgpt.com/s/t_69386111fcd08191988b111304ce88da
Thanks, I really do appreciate it. I've read about this happening for years but never thought I would be one in this position- Its honestly crazy what people feel entitled to do. Trust no one I guess...And I will block that view one way or another ;)
The MBTA in Boston is always looking for a place to park their old busses that they no longer use 😊
Drummond and Woodsum is bananas expensive. Your first bill would be larger than the value of multiple acres of mature timber.
They sound like it....BUT From what I understand, Legal fees should be recoverable in a civil suit for timber theft especially if it was done intentionally.
Have you tried, small woodland owners of maine? (Swoam) If they can't help directly, maybe they can point you in the right direction.
Thanks, that's a good resource even if they cant help with this!
These folks can help and are very reasonably priced.
Wadsworth Woodlands
TYVM!
i work as an apprentice forester (under a licensed one) and i did the field work for a timber trespass case. in most cases a forester will be counting stumps of trees cut down to 2" and identifying the types. the tally get puts through an equation based on its size and type to calculate a likely $ harvested, and then a multiplier is applied as part of the penalty.
you may be billed by the hour for the work, and loggers should or may have insurance for these scenarios. i did the trespass field work back in february 24 and it is still ongoing for my boss.
Thanks! I probably have some time on this as I don't think they can do a count right now as we have a good bit of snow on the ground.
It's Western Maine. Sit in a tree stand, wait for thief, pull trigger, climb down, walk out of woods, tell no one.
I get that sentiment...The thing people don't get is this- If some random criminal breaks into my house and steals my TV I can go buy a new TV and I am whole again.
I won't live long enough to see my land look the way it did before this happened, I can't go buy some new trees- and I have to see the people who did it probably for rest of my life.... It's sickening.
Back to your finger painting Corky.
We get it. You think stealing from individuals is okay. Maybe in your circles, but we're about working class solidarity around here. If you're going to steal, steal from corporations. If you're going to steal from people, you get what you get. Sorry you think that I'm the problem in that equation. OP This guy is probably your thief.
lol. “I’m a lumberjack and that’s ok…!”