NASHUA, NH, September 02, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Tree law is a little-known subsector of civil, premises liability, and real estate law, but it's one that can cost violators a surprising amount of money. Attorney Israel Piedra, a lead personal injury lawyer at Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C., specializes in timber trespass matters. Recently, he appeared on NPR's Morning Edition to discuss a recent case on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket. One neighbor faces criminal charges after cutting down his neighbor's trees to improve his property's view. The timber trespass may have boosted his property value, listed at nearly $10 million, but may end up costing the amateur lumberjack dearly.

Mr. Piedra notes that "timber trespass" cases are fairly common in New England, but many instances are simply due to confusion over property lines and failure to conduct a property survey before removing trees. Piedra pointed out that the Nantucket incident reached a "level of egregiousness" closer to a recent Maine case in which trees were poisoned, rather than razed.
Most commonly, tree trespass involves "a neighbor not knowing where the property line is, or perhaps even potentially knowing that [a tree] is probably on their neighbor's property, but plowing ahead and sticking their head in the sand and cutting down the trees anyway," says Piedra.

Timber trespass cases can get surprisingly complicated; Mr. Piedra estimates that he is currently working on about two dozen active tree law cases across the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont. He does note that few of these cases will result in criminal charges. More often, the victim must seek recourse through a civil lawsuit. Piedra, and the rest of Welts, White & Fontaine's southern New Hampshire personal injury lawyers, focus on recovery of compensation for those injured by the negligence of others.

Tree law and timber trespass often involve thousands of dollars, heightened emotions, and the complex issues of property law. New England property owners who believe they have a case of property rights violations and timber trespass are invited to contact our Nashua premises liability lawyer for more information.

About Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C.

Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C. is a top-rated personal injury, workers' compensation, divorce, family law, and estate planning law firm. In addition to bespoke representation for clients in civil and family law courts, we also believe in giving back and enhancing the New England legal community. Members of the firm have served on New Hampshire and American Bar Association committees and mentor newer professionals as lecturers and panelists for continuing legal education programs hosted by the New Hampshire State Bar Association.

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