Here is the scenario:
Last fall, I was working on topping off the wood pile. I noticed some dead trees on my neighbor's property and asked for permission to take the wood. She (the wife) said the would be fine. To be careful and do not cut anything that is live. I cut down somewhere between 3 to 5 trees that were about 8 to 10 inches in diameter maybe 20 feet high. They were dead, but still standing. I might have gotten 2 facecord at the most.
Fast forward to a month ago when my neighbor (the husband) came over very angry accusing me of cutting down his trees and tricking his wife into giving me permission. He can be a very difficult person to talk to esp. when he is mad. We had two "discussions" both of which ended when he became very vulgar and it was clear he was not looking to resolve the issue, just blow off steam.
I had not heard anything in a couple weeks and then i got a letter in the mail stating he was suing me in small claims. He is suing me for $1200. The letter states that i "cut down live trees instead of dead ones." I have been heating with wood for a long time and I actually run a small log splitting service, so i know when i am dealing with dead wood. A live tree would have been of no use to me as i was using it to heat the house that same year.
I know if i could get pictures of the stumps it would help my case, but i dont think i should go on the property even to "gather evidence."
Have any of you had any experience with a situation like this? Any thoughts on how to move forward?
Last fall, I was working on topping off the wood pile. I noticed some dead trees on my neighbor's property and asked for permission to take the wood. She (the wife) said the would be fine. To be careful and do not cut anything that is live. I cut down somewhere between 3 to 5 trees that were about 8 to 10 inches in diameter maybe 20 feet high. They were dead, but still standing. I might have gotten 2 facecord at the most.
Fast forward to a month ago when my neighbor (the husband) came over very angry accusing me of cutting down his trees and tricking his wife into giving me permission. He can be a very difficult person to talk to esp. when he is mad. We had two "discussions" both of which ended when he became very vulgar and it was clear he was not looking to resolve the issue, just blow off steam.
I had not heard anything in a couple weeks and then i got a letter in the mail stating he was suing me in small claims. He is suing me for $1200. The letter states that i "cut down live trees instead of dead ones." I have been heating with wood for a long time and I actually run a small log splitting service, so i know when i am dealing with dead wood. A live tree would have been of no use to me as i was using it to heat the house that same year.
I know if i could get pictures of the stumps it would help my case, but i dont think i should go on the property even to "gather evidence."
Have any of you had any experience with a situation like this? Any thoughts on how to move forward?