Neighbor cut down a man’s beloved 89-year-old oak tree over a property line dispute — then the court hit him with a $7,000 bill

Sometimes karma catches up quickly, but it can be extremely satisfying when it's slow. On May 21, 2026, an individual who goes by u/Catgutt on Reddit shared an update on an oak stump photo they first posted two years ago. The 89-year-old oak tree was carelessly chopped down by a neighbor who said it "threatened" his shed. With no basis to his claims, the couple decided to take matters into their own hands. After going through a long legal process, the author and their wife could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The update has received 4,300 upvotes and 233 comments so far.

$2,000 fee to chop your beloved tree

The incident began in July 2024, when the careless neighbor cut down the owner's oak tree. Unaware of the property lines, the neighbor asked the owner to pay half of the fee ($2,000). Instead of paying, the couple decided to go legal and hired a lawyer specializing in tree law, who advised them to get a property survey to "confirm the location of the tree." It took them almost two months to find out that the oak tree was actually 50 feet into their property.

Missing oak tree slashes home's value

A TPAQ-certified arborist was brought in and confirmed that the tree was healthy at the time it was cut, and replacing the tree would cost around $11,800. After hours of research, the author found that the only way was to sue the neighbor "for the reduction in property value." By November 2024, a home appraisal estimated that the property had lost around $10,000 in value because of the missing oak tree. A formal letter was sent, but the neighbor ignored it. After repeated attempts, the couple finally got a response from the neighbor's lawyer in February 2025.

The law didn't take kindly to his 'innocent mistake'

The neighbor's letter claimed that the tree was dead, and it was an "innocent mistake." The lawyers hopped on a call to clarify the issue, but the neighbor's lawyer was dismissive and hung up. A follow-up letter was sent along with the appraisal from the arborist and photos of a very healthy tree stump, but there was radio silence. Almost a year later, the author filed a lawsuit. Even then, the neighbor paid them no heed.

It wasn't until a court date was set that it finally dawned on the neighbor that he actually had to go to court, fighting a case he would most likely lose. He tried to negotiate with the couple and offered them $2,000. After rounds of bargaining, both parties settled on $7,000, even though the damages were $10,000. The couple's lawyer advised that it was better than going to court and incurring additional fees.

Americans and trees

The neighbor felt threatened by the 89-year-old oak tree and decided to cut it down without the owner's permission. This sentiment of fearing trees was not shared by the majority of the American population. The 2025 Canopy Report provided by the Arbor Day Foundation revealed that 73% of Americans wished they had more trees in their neighborhood. 87% expressed that trees and other green spaces have a positive impact on their mental health. Additionally, 91% of Americans believe that urban areas should be built in such a way that trees and green spaces will thrive.

Readers had suggestions for the grieving owner

People in the comments were thrilled that the 2-year-old Reddit post finally has an update. u/Strict_Sea_1210 tried to make the author feel better by writing, "At least the guy had to pay the $7k plus legal fees. Even though you only got $2k, he probably paid $12-15k." u/azssf added, "OP, thank you for the follow-up. We mourn the oak with you."

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