Source: https://marketing.legal/articles-archive/miscellaneous/tree-liability-risk
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 19:48:19+00:00

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It would appear to be common ground that a property owner, such as Park Lawn, cannot be held responsible for damage resulting from a limb on a tree falling simply on the basis that the limb or tree fell. If the evidence does not establish that there was knowledge on the part of the defendant, Park Lawn, of a dangerous condition of a tree or that there was a dangerous condition of which the defendant Park Lawn ought to have knowledge, a finding of negligence is unavailable as a matter of law. (See: Culley v. Maguire,  O.J. No. 52 (C.A.) at p. 1; Quinlan v. Gates,  O.J. No. 5292(S.C.J.) at p. 2; Buttoni et al. v. Henderson et al., 21 O.R. 309 (H.C.J.) at p. 371; Doucette v. Parent,  O.J. No. 3493 (Gen. Div.) at p. 4;Gasho v. Clinton (Town),  O.J. No. 4505 (S.C.J. (Small Claims) at p. 4).
The ownership of trees brings legal risks relating to public safety as similar from other realty property ownership risks borne out of the Occupier's Liability Act. Although hazard trees are generally presumed as unhealthy and structurally failing trees, much can be said for serious risks posed by fully healthy trees. The 'healthy hazard' may exist where tree branches or roots intrude upon neighbouring property and cause damage or other interference (see examples below). Children may also find trees as a climbing interest and fall from branches resulting in personal injuries or even suffer electrical shock injuries when the weight of a child causes a branch to contact electrical lines; MacDonald v. Goderich (Town), 1947 CanLII 113. Additionally, fruit trees may attract dangerous insects or animals thereby posing risk.
Liability for trespass involving trees most commonly occurs when trees are wrongfully cut down. The unintentional trespass can occur innocently by accident or negligence Barnstead v. Ramsey, 1996 CanLII 1574 ; Sinkewicz v. Schmidt, 1994 CanLII 5148 or as well as occur intentionally such as when a property owner trespasses and cuts a neighbours trees for an ulterior purpose such as improving sightlines; Kates v. Hall, 1991 CanLII 1127; McKim v. Degraaf, 1991 CanLII 399 as well as to facilitate construction projects; Hik v. Kerr, 1992 CanLII 2352.

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