US Man Who Slashed Neighbour's Trees For Better View May Have To Pay $1.5 Million
NDTV
Mr Shinway told the outlet that the tree cutters had climbed a fence clearly marking his property line.
A man in the United States who chopped down 32 of his neighbour's trees to get a better skyline view could now face fines and replacement fees of up to more than $1.5 million, the New York Post reported. 40-year-old Samih Shinway, a New Jersey resident, said that a quarter acre of his oaks, birches and maples were slashed by his neighbour Grant Haber.
"It breaks my heart. It angers me. These trees take a very long time to grow," Mr Shinway told the outlet.
Mr Haber, the CEO of an antiterrorism company, has now been hit with an initial fine of $32,000 - $1,000 per axed tree. According to the law, he is also required to replace the illegally removed trees with "another of like or superior species". Additionally, Mr Shinway said that Mr Haber will also have to factor in the price of adding soil, removing invasive species and cleaning up - a massive undertaking estimated to cost $1.5 million.
As per the Post, the fight between the two neighbours began earlier this year in March when Mr Shinway said he caught workers in the act of cutting down trees on his estate. "I heard multiple chainsaws in the distance," he said, adding that he hopped on a four-wheeler and drove over to investigate.
