A judge in California ruled that the couple must pay approximately $600 thousand for razing the 180-year-old tree and caused damage to a protected area, located an hour away from San Francisco.
The incident became known in 2014, when a concerned neighbor reported the carrying out of works on site, are protected by conservation easement.
Bob Neal, Director of the nonprofit Sonoma Land Trust, went to the place to ensure around personally. He found that more than 3000 cubic yards of earth and stones were dug, and a 180-year-old oak uprooted without any permission to carry out works.
It turned out that the property owners Peter and Toni Thompson uprooted oak to carry it to a nearby ranch, where they built a new home.
According to court records, the protected oak tree and two other trees which the Thompsons wanted to move to another place, died, and a dozen other trees and other vegetation in a protected area.
The damage to the protected area, forced the Sonoma Land Trust to file a lawsuit against the Thompsons.
A SONOMA County judge Patrick Broderick ruled in favor of the Sonoma Land Trust. He noted that the pair «showed arrogance and a complete disregard of the mandatory conditions of an easement». Broderick ruled that a couple must pay more than $586 thousand for the restoration of damaged areas, as well as to cover other expenses.
After the decision of the Thompsons Broderick put the grounds and surrounding ranches for sale for $8.45 million
New the couple’s lawyer said they want to get another trial, explaining that their previous lawyer failed to properly present their case because of family problems. Peter Thompson said: «Personal matters have affected the opportunity to tell our version of history. In our opinion, there is a lot of evidence that we are unable to tell you about our vision of the situation».
