Aug 21, 2008 6:46 pm US/Pacific
Tree Cutting Sparks Dispute At Lily Tomlin's Home
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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A neighbor dispute erupted in Sherman Oaks over trees actress Lily Tomlin wanted cut down.
CBS
Police were called to a neighbor's dispute at Lily Tomlin's Sherman Oaks home over a pair of eucalyptus trees.
The comedienne apparently contracted with an arborist to chop down the trees over the objections of her neighbor. The two trees sit on an easement shared by both properties.
"She's another celebrity that wants her way," said neighbor Corey Steele. "She wants the trees down."
Officers stopped the tree cutting, but it resumed as soon as the officers left. City officials were also called on scene and questioned the tree cutters, who stopped because they lacked a license to cut the trees.
Tomlin had consulted an arborist, who told her the trees have some rot and were at risk, Steel said. Steel hired another arborist, who disagreed with the first arborist's report.
"Previously, she's told me she's afraid of the trees," Steele said. "So I went out of my way to maintain the trees, and she ignored me."
Tomlin issued this statement:
"It is true the trees have been knocked down. The trees were on Ms. Tomlin's property, she was advised by the arborist to remove them because they were a hazard to people on the premises. They could potentially tip over and kill someone. Her attorney and police were present at the time to make sure things were done accordingly."
Tomlin also called in live to speak with Rick Chambers and Laura Diaz during the CBS 2 News at 5PM. She said she's been trying to save the trees for the past two years.
"The arborist kept telling me, 'you've got to take these trees down, because a limb could fall down, and people go by with their baby carriages, walking their dogs, riding their bicycles' and it was just truly a hazard," Tomlin said. "Even my insurance company said, 'you've got to take these trees down or you're going to be criminally negligent.'"
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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