4th May 2008, 10:41 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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| Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5,659
|  Interesting case for Ohio Edison Power
Hearing continues without pine trees | Morning Journal News Quote:
LISBON — The Lisbon-area man who lost his trees to the chainsaws of the Ohio Edison power company on Feb. 6 plans on continuing a full hearing with Judge C. Ashley Pike.
Wayne Wilson of U.S. Route 30 said he intends to appeal the case —maybe even sue those responsible — because of the morality issue involved.
“I tried to rely on the legal system, and (this is what happened),” Wilson said.
Although the trees have been cut down, Wilson said he intends to get changes made in the law to set a standard for how far trees can be planted from power lines as well as be granted compensation for the removal of the trees.
“(The power company) has no regard to the $20,000 I’ve spent on the trees,” Wilson said, adding the company has not paid him any compensation.
Wilson said an electrical engineer with Ohio Edison testified there was no urgency to cut the trees down.
“They cut them down anyway,” Wilson said. “They didn’t want to deal with the (legality). They skirted the law.”
Wilson’s 40 blue spruce evergreen trees were first targeted to be removed by Ohio Edison last March because the company claimed they interfered with the transmission line path that runs through his property. Wilson disagreed, saying the trees were 40 feet away from the high voltage lines.
Pike ruled in a January hearing that Ohio Edison was within its rights to remove the trees, but requested the company hold off on cutting until a final hearing was held.
The Sheriff’s Office was also a topic of discussion for Wilson.
He was arrested by deputies for disorderly conduct Feb. 6 along with his girlfriend, Catherine Woodard, in reference to the tree cutting.
Wilson said he called the office to protect his personal property rights since Judge Pike requested the power company refrain from cutting down the trees until the full hearing was complete.
“I could have felt some level of resolve. I was prepared for that,” Wilson said of the situation if the power company followed Pike’s request. “Not ambushed at 8 a.m. with chainsaws in my yard.”
Wilson admitted he was emotional after being told he was under arrest, but he said he did not threaten anyone.
“I see no legal grounds for the charges,” he said. “I resent being treated like a common criminal.
“I did nothing to try and stop them,” he said, adding that he only spoke to them and showed the workers papers for his pending court case.
Wilson said he sat in jail all day under the disorderly conduct charge while his trees were cut and was only released in the afternoon when the last one was taken out.
Wilson said a conference call is set for Monday with Judge Pike to determine the direction.
He said he is a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen who is prepared to spend whatever time and money is necessary.
“Justice is for those who could afford it,” Wilson said. “I have four lawyers (working on the case). They told me if I would pursue this I’m looking to pay around $10,000.”
Until the case is resolved in court, Wilson said he won’t sleep.
“It dominates my life,” he said.
| Interesting to note the compensation plan he has ... sort of encourage people to plant near lines and get paid to have them cut down dont you think? Different if the trees were there first though. |
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