What started as a routine wildlife check turned into a multimillion-dollar legal bombshell.
A trail camera set up in Issaquah’s Grand Ridge Park to catch glimpses of local wildlife like bobcats and jaguars ended up catching something entirely unexpected: a tree hurtling down a hillside.
“To see a tree just flying down the hill like a javelin was pretty alarming,” Alex Brown, the homeowner who installed the motion-triggered camera, told KING 5. “Pretty much every day we see a bear coming by that camera, bobcats, cougars, the occasional mountain lions.”
Instead, what pinged Brown’s phone was a sliding tree and what he discovered when he hiked up to investigate would soon ignite a legal firestorm involving more than 140 felled trees.
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‘Serious and generational harm’
Brown said that he “found that quite a few trees had been cut up there within the park boundary,” adding, “A lot of them are still lying on that slope, which is alarming to those of us living down here.”
Many of the scattered stumps and fallen branches were inside a protected area of Grand Ridge Park.
King County has now filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $7 million in damages, accusing several homeowners of illegally cutting down 142 trees, many classified as “significant,” allegedly for the purpose of scoring a better view of West Tiger Mountain.
"This unlawful act caused serious and generational harm to a protected natural area," said King County Parks Director Warren Jimenez in a statement. He added that the cuts violated county codes, disrupted the wildlife habitat and damaged decades of public investment in conservation.
Jimenez said the county is going after civil penalties, treble damages and the contractors involved in what they call an environmental breach of trust.
Local resident Caitlin McNulty walks the trails daily with her young son Julian and said one of the falling trees landed just a few hundred feet from their home.
“It was just pretty scary because this is part of our regular little Julian loop that we come and walk most days,” McNulty said.
She suspects those responsible assumed they could get away with it.
“I imagine they thought there was a really low probability of anyone finding out. It would have been really hard for someone to have known this happened and I think the only reason we did is we had that wildlife camera there,” she said.
KING 5 spoke with one of the named homeowners in the lawsuit, who claimed the tree-cutting was done legally and for his family’s safety. But county officials aren’t convinced.
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Dos and don’ts as a homeowner
You have freedoms as a homeowner in the U.S., but those freedoms stop when they infringe on public safety, environmental integrity, neighbor rights, or zoning laws. Make sure you do your homework before swinging that sledgehammer or aiming that chainsaw.
What you can do
While you’ll want to research the specific laws pertaining to the project you want to carry out, these are general guidelines about what you’re typically allowed to do.
- Home improvements: You can remodel, add rooms, or build a deck, but “any project that goes beyond a simple repair or aesthetic upgrade” usually requires a permit from your local building department. If you skip this step, you can expect delays, fines, or even forced demolition.
- Rent your property: There’s no federal law stopping you from turning your home into a cash-flow machine but be sure to check local bylaws based on where you live, because every city, county and zoning board writes its own rules, so check before you list that spare room on Airbnb, or other rental services.
- Landscape paradise: Want a backyard oasis? Go for it, but watch water‐use laws in drought zones and be careful not to disturb wildlife habitats (especially in conservation landscapes).
- Install solar and eco‑upgrades: “Solar rights” laws in many states protect your right to go green. But you’ll still need permits, interconnection inspections and sometimes an HOA notice.
What you can’t do
Here are some things you shouldn’t do if you don’t want to get in trouble:
- Cut down trees without permission: Even if they are in your own yard, many cities and states require permits before removing trees. Fines and requirements often depend on tree size, species, or location.
- DIY without necessary permits: Building a fence, shed, or even a pool without pulling proper permits? Local authorities can issue a stop-work order, force you to tear it all down and slap you with a fine. It’s not just a slap on the wrist; it could be demolition day.
- Be a noisy neighbor: Constant noise, bright lights, or strong odors from your property? You could end up paying $20,000 to $50,000 in damages under local nuisance laws.
- Breaking HOA rules: Break HOA rules, like say, paint your house neon green or build an unapproved deck and you could face monthly fines, legal fees, or even foreclosure proceedings.
Some tips on being a good neighbor, in general
- Always consult your municipality before changing property and check for permits for everything from remodeling to major landscaping.
- Check HOA rules, submit plans for approval and keep documented records and communications of every step along the way.
- Hire arborists before removing trees, especially large, habitat-important or protected species.
- Be a considerate neighbor by limiting noisy tools, bright lights and strong odors.
While the case in King County is currently civil, the King County Prosecutor’s Office says criminal charges are still on the table.
As for Brown, he is still shocked by what he saw, “The fact that so much damage was done and consequently their view was improved raises a lot of questions,” he said.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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