Tree feud grows larger with new lawsuit

Deepa Bharath

It’s an animosity between two neighbors that has dug its roots far

and deep over the years.

Louis Ballas detests the trees on his neighbor’s yard because he

believes they have dug into his property, distorting his side of the

fence, breaking his walkways and causing his driveway to crack.

Two years ago Ballas took Yana and Mark Bridle to Small Claims

court, but withdrew after the Bridles’ insurance company told him he

couldn’t get more than $5,000. He had estimated the damages to be

much more.

So last month, Ballas filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior

Court demanding more than $50,000 in damages.

Yana Bridle said she is hurt and disappointed by Ballas’ lawsuit.

“He had a problem with my mellaluca tree,” she said. “It was very

hard for me. But I cut that beautiful tree.”

Bridle said she has also straightened Ballas’ fence and says the

problem in the driveway and walkway have not been caused by her

trees.

Neither Ballas nor his attorney David Baade was available for

comment on Tuesday. The city had washed its hands off the case years

ago saying that it was a civil matter to be settled between

neighbors.

But the lawsuit states that the Ballases have suffered and are

still suffering “injuries to their property” from the encroaching

branches and roots from the Bridles’ trees and bushes.

“The heavy branches have broken and displaced the fence,” the

lawsuit states. It also says that the damages have not been fully

estimated, but that it would be more than $50,000.

The suit says that the Ballases have asked the Bridles to maintain

their trees and bushes so the roots don’t come over to the other

side, but they have refused. It further asks for an injunction

forcing the Bridles to cut or maintain their trees -- whichever will

prevent the trees from encroaching on the Ballas’ property.

Bridle said she believes “this is a frivolous case.”

“I’m in fact devastated not because I had to cut my trees,” she

said. “It’s a matter of principle. I love trees and this man just has

a bizarre obsession with cutting them.”

Ballas had said in earlier interviews with the Daily Pilot that he

had no such obsession or hatred for trees, but was merely worried

about his property value.

“She has never done anything that she said she would do to help

the situation,” he said. “I want all the trees that are damaging my

property cut.”