West Vancouver neighbours sue over ancient cedar tree cut without consent

Karen Dietz and John Morgan have filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court against their West Vancouver neighbour David Stevenson and an arborist company, alleging they unlawfully cut down an ancient cedar tree that straddled the property line between their homes.

The tree, allegedly between 50 and 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide, was cut down in December 2024 while the plaintiffs were out of the country — a fact Dietz and Morgan claim was known to all defendants. When they returned home, they found the tree gone except for a bare 16-18-foot trunk.

The plaintiffs allege Stevenson hired arborist Nick Woods and his company Treeline Management to cut the tree without seeking consent to enter their property. They claim the tree cutters damaged their fence and garden and left behind large pieces of wood. "The tree was not unsafe and was not required to be cut such that it was reduced to a bare trunk," the lawsuit states.

None of the allegations have been tested in court. Stevenson, an elected school trustee, declined to comment. The lawsuit cites the District of West Vancouver's Tree Bylaw 4892, 2016, claiming the tree was protected under the regulation. Dietz and Morgan are seeking general, special, aggravated and punitive damages, plus interest and costs. They also want an injunction requiring the defendants to remove the tree trunk.