Acts of God and Other Silly Notions of Trees

May 3, 2022

Adjusting Insurance Claims Acts of God: If you are in the business of adjusting insurance claims, you have no doubt heard this scenario numerous times: “There was this incredible wind out of nowhere, and the next thing I knew my huge tree fell through my roof.” Another often repeated theme goes like this: “It must’ve […]

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Do Dead Trees Talk?

April 19, 2022

Do dead trees talk? Yes. 11:30 p.m. Had you been there on the wooded hill illuminated by the full moon, you would have definitely heard the noise. But you probably would never, ever have imagined its source. Something like a muffled groan but intuitively not human. Time would pass and you would have filed the […]

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If a Tree Fell in the Woods …

April 12, 2022

If a tree fell in the woods, would an insurance agent hear it? It is an amazing phenomenon to observe from afar. Extremely intelligent and well-versed insurance professionals handling claims become immobile when a tree or landscape issue comes before them. Their eyes glaze over. Their right hand goes to their chin. Their eyebrows rise. […]

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Trees and Class-Action Lawsuits

March 8, 2022

Trees and Class-Action Lawsuits One of the first lessons to be learned by a state official when inspecting trees to be earmarked for destruction during a viral outbreak is consideration of the homeowner. Rule #1: Be polite to the lady who opens the door to her home. Rule #2: Don’t kick at her dog. This […]

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The Most Misunderstood Component

February 1, 2022

The most misunderstood component in a consulting assignment is fertilizers and fertilization. Of course, there are many other components, such as  wrongful death and personal injury assignments that inculcate differences from breach of contract or negligence in the marketplace disputes. But the most misunderstood component of fertilizers and fertilization is especially true of landscape architects […]

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Trees or Cut Timber?

January 4, 2022

Trees or Cut Timber? In this matter, a new consultant to tree appraisals found herself across from me in an assignment regarding the cutting of trees without permission, and a trespass. A logger clear-cut 10 acres of standing pine trees on a property that did not belong to his client. A misunderstanding at best. A […]

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The Settlement Mystery of Trees and Landscapes

December 14, 2021

The Settlement Mystery of Trees and Landscapes Nothing evokes frustration, anger, and other awkward reactionary behavior like a claim for trees or landscapes. Something unexplainable occurs when the subject of appraising trees and landscapes occurs. The same thing happens in legal disputes. Pros simply don’t know how to approach just compensation regarding trees and landscapes. […]

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Trees Used as Spite Fences

November 30, 2021

Did you know that trees are often used as “spite fences”? They’re a beautiful amenity, until they are not. The shade they provide often is an encumbrance, especially to a neighbor trying to grow a vegetable garden. The shade is also most welcome until the leaves and branches start falling onto a neighbor’s property. A […]

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Why Does a Tree Fall?

July 9, 2021

Why does a tree fall? After the hustle and bustle of determining legal positioning in a wrongful death or personal injury matter regarding tree failures, this question inevitably comes up. Could the failure have been predicted within a reasonable amount of certainty before the incident occurred? Were the defects open and obvious? Were the defects […]

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New Tree Species and Varieties

May 6, 2021

New Tree Species and Varieties. Coming to Your Town Soon. The World Tree Organization (WTO) has just released three new species of trees permitted to be grown in cities and private landscapes. This much-awaited list came at the expense of many who wanted more ornamental varieties introduced to the landscape. Frederick Birch, president of the […]

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