Competing Legal Interests in Street Trees - James Komen

Street trees are ubiquitous in urban areas. Municipalities often – but not always – assume control over the trees growing along public rights-of-way. But what degree of ownership and control do property owners and municipalities each have over the trees? This talk presents a sampling of several cases that illustrate some of the conflicts that arise between landowners, municipalities, and third parties with respect to three key property rights: the right to use, the right to sell, and the right to destroy.