The People's Court Season 20 Episode 2 Tree Cutter Tantrum

In the second episode of the 20th season of The People's Court, titled "Tree Cutter Tantrum," Judge Marilyn Milian presides over a case between two neighbors who are arguing over a tree that was cut down.

Plaintiff, Mr. Smith, is suing his neighbor, Ms. Jones, for damages caused by the removal of a large oak tree from his property. Mr. Smith claims that Ms. Jones hired a tree-cutting company to remove the tree without his permission, and that the removal caused damage to his driveway and property.

Ms. Jones argues that the tree was posing a hazard to her property, and therefore had to be removed. She claims that she had offered to split the cost of the removal with Mr. Smith, but he had refused to do so.

During the course of the trial, witnesses are called to testify about the events leading up to the removal of the tree. Mr. Smith's wife, for example, testifies that they had never received any notice or warning that the tree was posing a hazard, and were shocked when they came home to find it had been cut down.

Ms. Jones, on the other hand, presents several pictures of the tree that she claims prove that it was in fact posing a hazard, and that she had no choice but to have it removed.

As Judge Milian listens to the testimony and examines the evidence, she determines that Ms. Jones did in fact have a legitimate reason for removing the tree. However, she also determines that Ms. Jones did not follow proper procedures before having the tree removed, and therefore caused damage to Mr. Smith's property.

Judge Milian orders Ms. Jones to pay Mr. Smith for the damages caused by the removal of the tree, but also admonishes Mr. Smith for not taking proper care of his property and allowing a potentially hazardous tree to remain on his property for so long.

Overall, "Tree Cutter Tantrum" showcases the importance of communication and proper procedures when it comes to property disputes between neighbors, and the role that judges can play in resolving these disputes in a fair and equitable manner.