Revise your claim. Your claim should include only the value of the
tree before it was damaged, the cost of TOTAL removal (including
cutting, hauling, and grinding out the stump so that a new tree can
be planted), and the costs of submitting the claim (e.g., the cost
of the arborist's estimate). Do not include the cost of a
replacement tree (see below).

Does you local municipality or county have an arborist? Is there
an agricultural extension? Can you pay to have them appraise the
tree? I contacted a friend with our local park agency to appraise
the value of two trees, based on how the agency values its own
trees in this situation. Otherwise, get another arborist, one that
is both licensed (if they are licensed in your area) and a member
of a national professional society. (Add the cost to your claim.)

When the claim is settled and the old tree is removed, replace it
with a much younger tree (5 or 10 gallon can). In a few years, it
will be thriving and growing much more vigorously than a specimen
tree the size of your old tree. And you will have some money left
over from the settlement.

--

David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

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